What if the upcoming Dolphins’ draft goes against expectations?

The word “mock” as an adjective; and perhaps in the context of a sports draft would be defined as “arranged for training or practice, or performed as a demonstration”

That could be why you see hundreds of them from prognosticators far and wide.

The word mock as a verb could also be applicable in these instances.

mock – “Make (something) seem laughably unreal or impossible”.

Usually the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Sometimes the board goes as the majority expects.

Other times the human element takes over and the once predictable draft boards become full of the unexpected.

Each NFL draft has its own plot twists, and smart teams capitalize on the moment and take advantage.

The Miami Dolphins are poised to be the stars of the 2020 NFL Draft, with three first round picks.

Perhaps nearly as important are the three remaining selections inside the top 70, which bodes well for a Dolphins roster in need of depth.

Everyone who follows the team, and those that don’t, know that Miami needs their quarterback of the future.

Tua Tagovailoa has been the “Chosen One” for what seems like an eternity.

Until the smoke started.

NEW…Miami Dolphins trying to trade for draft’s first pick and Joe Burrow? What it might look likehttps://t.co/LbdPsLz6ce — Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) April 1, 2020

Another possibility… both factions are wrong.

So what if that happens?

What if Burrow does in fact go to Cincinnati, and then another quarterback needy team jumps Miami for Tua?

That may be an uneasy scenario for Dolphins’ fans to stomach, but if we are known for one thing it is a tough constitution.

Let’s take a look at how the first three rounds could deviate from predictability, including a full mock of Day 1.

“Seeing Through the Smoke”

Picture Miami standing pat with their existing picks and starting Day 1 with the 5th selection.

Crazy, right?

Say the first four picks go something like this:

No.1 Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

No. 2 Washington Redskins – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

No. 3 Los Angeles Chargers (via trade with DET) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Yeah, that just happened.

The departure of Phillip Rivers leaves the quarterback situation in Los Angeles uncertain.

Tyrod Taylor is not the long term solution.

The Chargers take a leap of literal and proverbial faith and grab their franchise quarterback in the hopes someone will notice.

Prime example of how Chargers home games seem like road games: team was forced to take the rare step of using a silent count at home in loss vs. Vikings, per sources.https://t.co/OiVQojp49U — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 22, 2019

The Miami Dolphins 2020 draft takes its first detour.

No. 4 New York Giants – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

With the two top quarterbacks in the eyes of many off the board, where does the Dolphins brain trust go?

Justin Herbert is still there but so are three top tackles, along with Isaiah Simmons and Jeffrey Okudah.

Could you imagine a secondary of Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, and Okudah?

Neither could Miami apparently.

No. 5 Cleveland Browns (via Miami) – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

In this scenario Cleveland doesn’t think the quick rising Becton lasts until their original pick at 10, so they swap with Miami and include their 2020 second round pick (41) in the deal.

No. 6 Detroit Lions (via Chargers) – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

No. 7 Carolina Panthers – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

No. 8 Arizona Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

No. 9 Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

No. 10 Miami Dolphins – Justin Herbert QB, Oregon

See, Miami did take a quarterback with their first pick!

Seeing through the #SmokeSZN is nearly impossible unless you are one of the chosen few in the Dolphins power structure.

Make no mistake, the Dolphins are on the clock for their next great quarterback.

The link to Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins has nearly been spoken into existence.

It still may happen, but having drawn as such a foregone conclusion so early seems lacking

Herbert may have been the prize all along, and at this draft position is the ultimate value.

HIGHLIGHT | Justin Herbert with a dime to Jaylon Redd in the back corner for his 40th career TD pass to put Oregon on the board first. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/cZGrU0L9xn — Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 8, 2018

Now Miami has positioned themselves to add top level depth in the second and third rounds, while securing their quarterback.

No. 11 New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

No. 12 Las Vegas Raiders – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

No. 13 San Francisco 49ers – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

No. 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

No. 15 Denver Broncos – Henry Ruggs, III WR, Alabama

No. 16 Atlanta Falcons – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

No. 17 Dallas Cowboys – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

No. 18 Miami Dolphins – Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Miami now sits with five more picks through Round 2, in a draft full of players that fit their needs in this range.

With positions such as tackle and safety running low, and with all the top running backs still on the board, Miami could go any direction here.

However with Hebert the choice earlier, his protection must be a priority.

Jones is a bit of a reach here, he has all the athletic traits you look for at tackle but lacks refinement.

With development he can be a high level NFL starter but will need improvement in the fundamentals to meet that potential.

If we have learned one thing about Brian Flores and his coaching staff. it is that player development is of the highest priority.

No. 19 Las Vegas Raiders – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

No. 20 Jacksonville Jaguars – Grant Delpit, S, LSU

No. 21 Philadelphia Eagles – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

No. 22 Minnesota Vikings – Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

No. 23 New England Patriots – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Of course.

No. 24 New Orleans Saints – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

No. 25 Minnesota Vikings – Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota

No. 26 Miami Dolphins – J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State

The offensive makeover becomes the priority of the first round and the Dolphins somehow luck into Dobbins who fits their style perfectly.

Miami has secured their quarterback and his blindside protector, now they have their running back of the future.

ohio state RB @jkdobbins22 carried the ball 301 times for 2,003 yards and 21 TDs in 2019-breaking the buckeyes single-season rushing record. dobbins is one of the top prospects and would be a glove fit in miami’s offense. here’s a look at some of j.k dolphins best runs in 2019. pic.twitter.com/7D637oIWEN — josh houtz (@houtz) January 9, 2020

The Dolphins rushed to get Dobbins in for a pre-draft visit before closing down their facilities due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Dobbins mix of power and speed make him the ideal feature back, he is a willing pass blocker but does need to improve there a bit.

Last year he became the first Ohio State running back to rush for 2000 yards in a single season (301 carries, 2003 yards, 21 TD, 6.2 YPC)

Dobbins caught 71 passes in his three seasons at Ohio State and can be an every down weapon for many years.

No. 27 Seattle Seahawks – A.J. Espenesa, EDGE, Iowa

No. 28 Baltimore Ravens – D’Andre Swift, RB, Clemson

No. 29 Tennessee Titans – Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State

No. 30 Green Bay Packers – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

No. 31 San Francisco 49ers – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

No. 32 Kansas City Chiefs Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

The first round of the Dolphins draft is dedicated to the offense, in harmony with the defensive additions in free agency.

However, Miami is by no means done with two premium picks in Round 2 awaiting them.

Round 2

Having three first-round picks in one draft can rebuild the top shelf quickly.

Add three more in the second-round and you can fill up the entire pantry.

Miami continues building out the trenches on Day 2 and the roster begins to take shape.

No. 39 – Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

Miami further solidifies the offensive line with Ruiz, the near consensus top interior lineman in the draft.

Ruiz has plenty of experience having started 31 games for Michigan over his career, with 26 at center.

His versatility will be vital to a revamped offensive line and his play against Big-10 competition in the trenches will help his transition.

Ruiz can be a factor at the second level in the run game, and is an enthusiastic lead blocker in the screen game.

He sets a stout anchor and usually gives up little ground on pass protection.

Ruiz is strong enough to hold off larger defensive lineman and agile enough to compete with smaller ones.

With improved strength and conditioning at the NFL level, Ruiz can meet what is a very high professional ceiling.

No. 41 (from Cleveland) Ross Blacklock, IDL, TCU

After four consecutive picks on the offensive side, the Dolphins finally come back to the defense with an interior disruptor in Blacklock.

With Devon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins Miami has two solid pocket movers, and with Blacklock they add another.

Blacklock has a nonstop motor that will be well received and has the quick feet to blow up the middle or set the edge.

Missing 2018 with an Achilles set him back a bit in terms of seeing the game, but Blacklock has the motor and physical tools to be a force in the middle for years.

No. 56 Lucas Niang, OT, TCU

The infusion of youth and high upside on the offensive line continues with Niang, who joins his TCU teammate Ross Blacklock in Miami. Niang is an excellent value at pick 56, his floor profiles as an above average NFL starter. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds, Niang possesses prototypical size for an NFL tackle.

Niang played through a hip injury until November which seemed to limit his mobility somewhat, and he can struggle against quicker edge rushers in pass sets.

He made 27 starts at right tackle in college and projects there at the next level, his pass blocking upside is elite but will need refinement as a road grader.

Niang is not scheme limited and should fit nicely on the right side of the revamped offensive line sooner than later.

Round 3

The first two rounds of the Miami Dolphins 2020 NFL Draft focused on value, need, and roster balance.

With one selection in the third round, Miami checks one last box and addresses the thin safety position.

No. 70 Ashtyn Davis, S, California

Miami gets their versatile safety in Davis who brings a varied skill set that Brian Flores covets.

Davis can play all over the field whether in base or sub packages, and will likely be a key contributor on special teams right away.

He is willing to stick his nose in on run support but has struggled with some run fits, Davis is not your long term in-the-box safety.

Davis has a high motor and the range to make up for the occasional misstep, along with the ability to matchup in the slot when called upon.

With his versatility and likeliness to contribute in all phases of special teams, Davis fits what Miami needs in many ways.

Summary

No. 10 – Justin Herbert, QB

No. 18 Josh Jones, OT

No. 26 J.K. Dobbins, RB

No. 39 Cesar Ruiz, C

No. 41 Russ Blacklock, IDL

No. 56 Lucas Niang, OT

No. 70 Ashtyn Davis, S

By trading down the Dolphins were able to add a high second round pick and bring in new talent across the offensive line.

They also went off script by moving down and selecting Herbert, a move that may draw criticism from fans and media alike.

But they were also able to get the top running back for their system, and two players that can immediately impact the defense and special teams.

The Miami Dolphins offensive line in 2020 could somehow end up looking something like this:

LT: Josh Jones

LG: Erick Flowers

C: Cesar Ruiz

RG: Ted Karras

RT: Lucas Niang

Forget easing the rookies into it, may as well let them all learn on the job.

No matter how well Miami drafts and supplements in free agency, this is still not a playoff roster.

Ryan Fitzpatrick can hide some of the warts and help the rookies grasp the game at the NFL level.

It is nearly impossible for the aforementioned script to unfold, but trading down and acquiring even more assets could happen.

In some way, shape, or form the most important draft for the Miami Dolphins in this century is happening April 23rd.

One that will go down in history for many reasons.

We will be hosting a live draft show on Day One with numerous contributors throughout our network.

Follow @5ReasonsSports on Twitter for more details.

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