2024 NFL Draft Grades: Miami Dolphins

Day 1 grade: B
Day 2 grade: C
Day 3 grade: B

Analysis: Miami needed another edge rusher, especially with Jaelan Phillips coming off an Achilles injury and Bradley Chubb coming off a torn ACL, but Robinson must show he can be a factor in the run game and convert pressures into sacks more regularly in the NFL. Left tackle Terron Armstead's difficulty staying on the field made Paul a good pick in the second round. The teams' forfeiture of its third-round pick dragged down its grade.

Trading a future third-round pick for a fourth in the current draft is usually not wise, and Miami has a few backs in the stable already, but finding a potential star in Wright waiting around made it easier to swallow. It would not surprise me if the relentless Kamara is as productive as Robinson early in his career. Both pass-catchers with the surname Washington (not related) will flourish as tough-minded slot receivers in Mike McDaniel's offense.

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive line, wide receiver, defensive tackle

Miami was hit hard in free agency as a result of a salary-cap crunch, losing guard Robert Hunt, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jerome Baker and cornerback Xavien Howard, among other players. And while I liked the Dolphins' additions of linebacker Jordyn Brooks, cornerback Kendall Fuller and tight end Jonnu Smith, they have big holes to plug. Plus, they came into this draft with six picks, tied for the second fewest in the league.

Chop Robinson (21) has elite upside if he can reach his ceiling, but when you turn on his Penn State tape, you wonder why he didn't dominate. He had just four sacks last season. If I were running this team, I would have taken tweener defensive end/tackle Darius Robinson or center Graham Barton instead. Patrick Paul (55) is a selection for the future -- he played left tackle in college and could replace Terron Armstead there down the line. But I'm not sure he's ready to start as a rookie for a team that really had to get instant-impact players.

I'm a huge fan of speedy running back Jaylen Wright (120), but Miami gave up its 2025 third-rounder to get him. That's not great value, especially for a team that doesn't necessarily have a need at the position. I had Mohamed Kamara (158) at No. 67 overall in my rankings, so this is a fantastic pick. He had 13 sacks last season. GM Chris Grier tried to hit his void at wideout with Malik Washington (184) and Tahj Washington (241) on Day 3; Malik is the guy to watch, as he had 110 catches last season.

I like a bunch of these players, but it's a small class and giving up the 2025 third-rounder means it can't make it to B+.

IN TRUE DOLPHINS STYLE, MIAMI PRIORITIZED SPEED AND EXPLOSIVENESS IN BUILDING ITS 2024 DRAFT CLASS. The team rolled the dice on a high-upside pass rusher in Chop Robinson on Day 1, grabbing a raw but super twitchy pass rusher who has the best first-step burst in the class. Robinson has to develop more moves and get stronger against the run, but he has the foundation from which to build an excellent pass-rush plan. Fourth-round running back Jaylen Wright fits a similar high-upside mold as a deliciously explosive running back with elite top-end speed. I compared him to Raheem Mostert prior to the draft, and now the Tennessee standout has a chance to be Mostert's long-term replacement. The team had a couple other Day 3 picks that I really liked, too: Colorado State's Mohamed Kamara brings an explosive element off the edge to complement Robinson, and receiver Malik Washington was one of my favorite pass catchers in this class, period. My 56th ranked player, Miami got an absolute bargain by grabbing him in the sixth round. The former Virginia playmaker has strong hands, excellent burst, and elite tackle-breaking ability out of the slot. It wouldn't surprise me much if he ended up getting on the field as the team's no. 3 receiver early on. This is a class of high-variance players, but I'm excited about its potential.

Taking Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson in the first round was probably a good call given the injuries to veteran OLB Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and fact a surplus of edge players is never a bad thing. Choosing OT Patrick Paul in Round 2 was a defensible hedge given the appearance that LT Terron Armstead seems to be coming to the end of the line — though Miami seems to remain quite vulnerable up the middle. Mid-round RB Jaylen Wright (Tennessee) and OLB Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State) could add bonus juice. Miami's third-rounder was forfeited due to owner Stephen Ross' tampering violation, and the fourth-rounder was used in the acquisition of Chubb two years ago.

You had to laugh when the Dolphins took Jaylen Wright, the draft's second-fastest running back. Last year, they took Devon Achane, one of the fastest players in the NFL. But that didn't stop them from bringing more speed into the offense in the fourth round. Wright followed a good get in the first round in Chop Robinson, an edge rusher who'll help the team manage snaps for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, who both ended last year with major injuries. They also managed to snap up a tackle in Patrick Paul, who will develop behind Terron Armstead. It was a great draft, one that matched value with need. —McKenna

Best Pick: It was their first one, edge Chop Robinson. He didn't have a lot of sack production, but he can get after the quarterback. He has an explosive first step and helps fill a need with their two top edge players coming off injury.

Worst Pick: In my view, they really didn't have one. I liked every one of their picks, but they gave up a 2025 third-round pick to take running back Jaylen Wright. I know he's fast, and we know they love speed, but that's rich after taking De'Von Achane last year.

The Skinny: Many will question their first two picks -- tackle Patrick Paul was the second-round pick -- but not me. I love Robinson and Paul was on my Better-Than team. He might not start right away, but Terron Armstead is up in the years and missed seven games last season. They added a bunch of other good players.

Analysis: This seemed like the biggest "forced hand" of a draft class, as the Dolphins had to be dedicated to depth with some injury edge concerns up front (Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips). Paul was thinking beyond Terron Armstead, while they hope Washington can give them a key No. 3. Wright is a fine talent, but for them, he's just a Mike McDaniel luxury pick to a position of strength.

Analysis: The Dolphins were predictable but effective. They built along the offensive and defensive lines with their first two picks, grabbing Robinson and then Paul, who should eventually replace Terron Armstead when he retires. For Miami, Robinson's early maturation will be key with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb working back from injuries.

The Miami Dolphins are the football answer to the conceptual question: What if they built the entire plane out of the black box? There is no mystery at all to what Mike McDaniel wants to do on offense — he wants to put a track team on the field to terrify your defense with the home-run play every single time.

To that end, they got Jalen Wright, one of the most explosive backs in this class, who can also get grimy yards to a degree. And I don't know how they stole Malik Washington in the sixth round, but adding his house-call speed to this thing could be ridiculous. And I really like Patrick Paul as a plus pass-blocker.

But what Miami did on defense is just as interesting — they went with speed here, as well. Both Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara are guys you don't put on the field to stop the run — they're going from zero to 100 from the first step. Good moves for a team that struggled to keep their best pass-rushers on the field, especially late in the season. I'd like to see more interior offensive line help here, but I have to admire the Dolphins' commitment to the bit.