2022 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins build around Tua Tagovailoa
Fifth-round pick: Joshua Paschal, Edge, Kentucky
Miami needs to add rotational players along the defensive line. Brian Flores loves to mix and match his fronts, so a versatile prospect like Joshua Paschal could be an excellent fit. For starters, he’s a thickly built tweener who stands 6-2 270-pounds, similar to Emmanuel Ogbah.
Paschal isn’t the same prospect, but he plays with power as a two-gap end. He’s a dominant run defender capable of sliding inside as a three-technique rusher. He’s worth a flyer in the fifth round as a potential rotational player.
Fifth-round pick: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
Revamping the wide receiver room is a necessity for the Fins. Adding young guys in a draft that isn’t top-heavy but has depth could pay off big time. Khalil Shakir has a skill set that translates to the NFL. He’s an ideal slot receiver with outside ability.
If you watch the 6-0 190-pound, he plays more like 6-3 when he high-points the ball. He does a great job working the middle of the field. He plucks the ball out of the air. And he isn’t afraid of contact.
Shakir brings toughness and run after the catch ability. He has a knack for making guys miss, and Boise wasn’t afraid to exploit those gifts. They used him on end-arounds and out the backfield as a pass-catcher. Right now, he’s not on any Big Boards as a Top 125 prospect, but I imagine he will be.
Sixth-round pick: Marquan McCall, NT, Kentucky
Adding a space-eater late in the 2022 NFL Draft is something Miami could consider. Marquan McCall is the classic beefy two-gap nose tackle. Before his injury, the Wildcat tackle showed brute power with his impressive bull rush. While he doesn’t offer much beyond run-stopping qualities, he’s surprisingly quick for a man his size 6-3 258-pounds. McCall’s ability to eat space and free up backers could be useful, and this is a good spot for him.
Sixth-round pick: Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
Jakeem Grant is gone, and the Miami Dolphins need a return man. Jaylen Waddle shouldn’t be doing kick-offs or punt returns. A player like Baylor’s Trestan Ebner makes perfect sense in the seventh round. Ebner can start and stop on a dime. He makes guys miss with short-area quickness and sudden movements.
He also has over 100-catches in his college career, a bonus should the Fins need him to catch some passes out of the backfield. He’s versatile and could make the Fins roster.