Miami Dolphins 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Miami Dolphins from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

For a more inclusive lists of mock drafts for the Miami Dolphins, check out our 2021 Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Database.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Dolphins:

Pro Football Network - DiCecco (6/7)
6) Miami Dolphins: DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama
14) Miami Dolphins (via Texans): Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama

At the East-West Shrine Bowl, I asked former Roll Tide defensive back Shyheim Carter who the toughest cover was in practice, and he instantly named DeVonta Smith. The Alabama speedster reunites with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and adds a vertical element to a vastly improved offense.

The Dolphins continue to build around Tua, this time adding one of his Alabama offensive linemen, as Miami strives to retool the trenches for their franchise quarterback.

Fox Sports - McIntyre (6/7)
2. Miami Dolphins -- Penei Sewell, LT, Oregon
8. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans) -- Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami

People were surprised I had the Dolphins this high after the 2020 draft. Brian Flores had an impressive 2nd half of 2019 but historically throughout the NFL, that's meant nothing. The Tua talk about starting in Week 1 was comical. Plus, would you want to throw Tua out there behind that putrid offensive line?

From Florida, plays for the Hurricanes. Last year, the Dolphins had four former Hurricanes on the roster. A front four of Rousseau (15.5 saCKS, 19.5 TFL IN 2019), Ogbah, Wilkins and possibly Raekwon Davis has some potential.

Walter Football (5/19)
2. Miami Dolphins: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
10. Miami Dolphins: Alex Leatherwood, OT/G, Alabama

The Dolphins don't have much of an edge rush. After fixing their offense in the 2020 NFL Draft, they can address their stop unit with two selections in this class. Gregory Rousseau will be a redshirt sophomore entering the 2021 offseason, but he logged double-digit sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He was compared to Calais Campbell entering Miami.

Unless the Dolphins believe Robert Hunt can play right tackle, they'll be looking to upgrade the position in the near future. Alex Leatherwood, a former five-star recruit, has excellent strength to be a stellar run blocker and the athleticism to block elite edge rushers.

CBS Sports - Edwards (5/12)
4. Miami Dolphins: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
9. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Parsons is an active, athletic linebacker. Miami tends to prefer more physical linebackers but that is not necessary in today's NFL. They become much more versatile with Parsons alongside Jerome Baker.

Smith was overshadowed a bit by Alabama's first-round receivers. With a larger platform this season, there will be no denying his talent. Smith should cement himself as a first-round talent.

CBS Sports - Trapasso (5/4)
4. Miami Dolphins: Gregory Rousseau, DL, Miami (FL)
11. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Rousseau was super-productive as a redshirt freshman with nearly 16 sacks. He has to fill out his tall frame but has freaky athletic gifts and would provide Miami a true alpha rusher on the edge.

At times in 2020, Waddle looked like the best, most electric receiver at Alabama. His yards-after-the-catch talent is through the roof. Easy decision to give Tua one of his favorite targets.

PFF - Renner (4/30)
4. Miami Dolphins -- EDGE Greg Rousseau, Miami (FL)
10. Miami Dolphins -- TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

Rousseau has almost comical physical tools -- it's as if someone built the ideal edge defender body and then said "more." He's listed at 6-foot-7 and 253 pounds with long arms, and he racked up 16 sacks as a redshirt freshman last season. The Miami defensive end still has a ways to go technically, though, as his 76.2 overall grade didn't quite match that sack total.

Pitts is more of a jumbo wide receiver than actual tight end, at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds. I'd be scared if that's what he checks in at during the combine, but that's what he was listed at last season when he was only 18 (!) years of age to start the year. He moves unlike any other tight end in the country and led the Gators with 649 receiving yards last year.

San Diego Union Tribune (4/29)
4. Miami (80/1) -- Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
10. Miami from Houston (50/1) -- Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

The Biletnikoff Award winner's production -- 84 receptions, 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns -- will likely slip a bit with Joe Burrow and Joe Brady gone from Baton Rouge. It won't change the fact Chase is one of the top-two receivers in next year's draft class.

Leatherwood has shown he can be equally dominant at right guard or left tackle.

SI - Hanson (4/27)
4. Miami Dolphins: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
10. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Walker Little, OT, Stanford

DeVante Parker had the unusual fifth-year breakout and Preston Williams was a highly productive UDFA before his season-ending injury. With Chase, the Dolphins give Tua Tagovailoa a true No. 1 receiver. Named by several corners in the 2020 draft as the best receiver they faced, Chase finished his Biletnikoff-winning campaign with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Of his 84 receptions, a nation-leading 24 of them went for 20-plus yards.

Reinforcing the offensive line in the 2020 draft, Chris Grier used a top-20 pick on Austin Jackson and a top-40 pick on Robert Hunt, then added some Day 3 depth with Solomon Kindley. While Hunt primarily played right tackle in college, he projects best to guard at the next level. Continuing the transformation of the worst offensive line in 2019, Little and Jackson would give Tua a talented set of bookend tackles to protect him for the next decade.

Bleacher Report - Miller (4/27)
5. Miami Dolphins -- WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
11. Miami Dolphins (from Houston) -- RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Tua Tagovailoa is reunited with one of his favorite targets as the Miami Dolphins are in desperate need of young, fast weapons at wide receiver. This move gives Miami a player Jerry Jeudy told me is just as fast as Henry Ruggs III. In case you need a reminder, Ruggs ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and was the fastest player in the draft class. Waddle is an explosive downfield threat but also an accomplished route-runner who is more of a blend between Jeudy's routes and Ruggs' speed. That's something the Dolphins sorely lack and desperately need.

The Miami Dolphins opted not to draft a running back in 2020, which may point to how the front office values the position. But with their fifth first-rounder in two seasons, it's possible they'll be more open-minded to adding an electric option at the position. Travis Etienne is a blur in space and has excellent hands. Whether he's paired with the existing backs or asked to take the featured job right away, he has a spark in his game the Dolphins could use in the backfield.

SB Nation - Kadar (4/27)
5. Miami Dolphins: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
10. Miami Dolphins (from Texans): Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State

The Dolphins didn't take a wide receiver this year, and the options after DeVante Parker are average. The last time we saw Chase, he was torching Falcons first-round pick A.J. Terrell in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Say hello to the 2021 version of Derrick Brown. Wilson surprised people by returning to Florida State for his senior season. That came after a season of 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks even though he missed his last four games.

The Athletic - Brugler (4/27)
5. Miami Dolphins -- *Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
11. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) -- *Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State

Linebacker might not be the Dolphins' greatest need next offseason, but I'll bet head coach Brian Flores will have a tough time passing on Parsons. With his blend of instincts, athleticism and toughness, he can do everything on the football field.

Freiermuth might have been drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft if he declared early, but he chose to return to State College for the 2020 season. An outstanding mix of size and athleticism, the tight end can be a dynamic receiving weapon.

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