Here's another projection from South Beach, which is hopping right now due to Spring Break and people up north fleeing the cold and the lockdowns. There are so many possibilities in the draft this year - maybe more than any in recent history. Many of my thoughts are influenced by Herald writer
Barry Jackson, a great beat writer who uses lots of analytics and has many Dolphin connections.
- LB Kyle Van Noy was just released to create cap space. He was good last year, and a major reason the defense improved. He was A replacement needs to be found - maybe the LB from ND with pick 18. This would upend previous draft projections. Note that KVN "was second among all NFL linebackers in pressures (29, one behind Demario Davis) and had 69 tackles and six sacks, six passes defended and two forced fumbles." But he wasn't that good vs the pass.
- Our pick #3. I don't think any team will jump CIN at #5 to get Sewell. More likely, a lower ranked team will trade up to get Fields (or Lance) at #3. That would net even more draft capital. If we stay put, I see us drafting WR Chase. If we move down to #8 (CAR) or #9 (DEN), I could see us drafting Kyle Pitts. Gisecki has been very good, but he's in the last year of his cheap rookie contract and Pitts is supposed to be great. The combo could be special in 2021.
- At #18, we'll draft an impact player at DL (Rousseau, UM) or LB (Owusu-Koramoah, ND). Probably LB with KVN released.
The cap space we save with the release of KVN may help us go more aggressively after a free agent WR. I prefer that Miami not go after Arron Jones and instead take a RB in the 2nd round - maybe Javonte Williams with pick 2.18, who's been rising like a rocket.
With our #2.04 pick (not 2.03 - why?), I see the OL addressed, unless they take Sewell at #3 (unlikely). Tankathon has multiple OL picks early in the 2nd round