With the 102nd pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, The Miami Dolphins select... Mock Draft Edition.

The Miami Dolphins have stayed pretty busy this offseason. As I mentioned in my last post, one of the next moves I thought the Dolphins would make actually happened as they traded WR Devante Parker and their 2022 5th round pick to The New England Patriots for their 2023 3rd round pick. This move seemed to make sense for multiple reasons. They clear much needed cap space and get something in return for a player who would’ve probably been the 5th option at the pass catcher position. Their pass catching group are now Tyreke Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki and Cedrick Wilson Jr.

Next year’s draft will be more exciting than this year’s since the Phins have only 4 picks: 3rd (102), 4th (125), 7th (224), and 7th (247). There are a few positions I’d like to see filled with these picks. C is tops on my list, along with LB, OT, WR and P (yes, we currently don’t have one rostered). Let’s see what a possible mock draft may look like for the Phins this year.

With the 102nd pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

C Luke Fortner, 6’4 307lbs, Kentucky - Fortner was a first-team All-SEC in 2021 that played over 800 snaps for the Wildcats at C in 2021. In 2020, Fortner produced the 18th-best PFF grade at the RG position. Fortner allowed only five pressures and two sacks in 2021 and a total of 22 pressures and five sacks in his entire college career--over 2,300 pass-blocking reps. He’s quick and agile. Shows excellent timing and spacing needed to fit in a zone run-blocking scheme at center. If Fortner is sitting there when the Dolphins make their 1st pick in this year’s draft, they shouldn’t hesitate to grab him and help fortify the already improved OL.

With the 125th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

OT Zach Tom, 6’4 304lbs, Wake Forest – Tom was a first-team All-ACC in 2021 and appeared in 48 games with 37 starts (mostly at left tackle). In 2,967 career snaps (1,629 pass-blocking snaps), he only gave up four sacks and 37 pressures. His notable combine numbers were 4.94 sec 40, 33” vertical, 118” broad jump, and 7.32 sec 3-cone. He’s very effective with his hands, keeps his feet moving and displays lateral blocking range. Excellent position blocker who steers pass rushers from their angles of attack. His movement makes him an excellent option in the zone-blocking scheme Head Coach Mike McDaniel will be implementing.

With the 224th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

WR Danny Gray, 6’0 186lbs, SMU - Gray was a first-team All-AAC selection in 2021, leading SMU with 803 receiving yards and 9 TDs on 10 starts. He also played KR/PR as well. The Dolphins upgraded speed during free agency, and now they do it again in the draft as Gray is very explosive, sporting a solid 4.33 40 at the Combine. His main knock is that he’s a body catcher instead of a hands catcher. I can see the Phins using him in KR/PR duties with the occasional 4 WR-set to add even more speed on offense.

With the 247th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

P Matt Araiza, 6’1 200lbs, San Diego St. – The Dolphins do not currently have a punter on the roster, so they will likely draft one. And hopefully, it’s Matt Araiza. Araiza’s punts explode off his foot with a low launch angle and tremendous velocity/force. He had 18 punts of 60-plus yards in 2021, including two at 80 or more yards. If he can control his power to where he can place the ball where he wants, he can be a deadly punter and change field positions with one swift kick. He’s also known as the “Punt God.”