Dolphins 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Roundup of B/R Staff, Kiper and Expert Picks

The Miami Dolphins should have a clear objective with the No. 21 overall pick, according to most NFL draft experts.

The Dolphins must beef up both sides of their interior. Most draft experts have the AFC East side landing an offensive or defensive lineman next Thursday.

Which side of the ball the Dolphins draft first is dependent on how many offensive linemen are taken in the first 20 picks.

A run on offensive linemen is expected because so many teams picking from No. 5 on down need help on the interior.

If the Dolphins' favored offensive lineman is not there at No. 21, they could look for Christian Wilkins' potential replacement on the defensive line.

Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department predicted Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson would be Miami's pick at No. 21.

"Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson is a weapon on the move in the run game," B/R's Brandon Thorn said. "Miami's rare ability to create advantageous angles for its line to gain leverage on defenders makes this a match made in heaven that would fully unlock JPJ's superpowers as a player."

But the Dolphins have more than one interior need and a handful of draft experts believe the best pick at No. 21 is on the defensive line.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com's Peter Schrager each have Florida State EDGE Jared Verse landing at No. 21, while The Athletic's Dane Brugler predicted UCLA's Laiatu Latu would be the selection.

Kiper noted that if Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, who went 20th in his mock draft with Field Yates, was available, he would have been the pick at No. 21.

The Dolphins need defensive line help to replace Christian Wilkins and to bring youth to a veteran unit that dealt with a ton of injuries in 2023.

If the Dolphins go with an offensive lineman at No. 21, they could take a defensive lineman at No. 55 or vice versa.

B/R's NFL scouting department predicted Ohio State defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr. would land with the Dolphins at No. 55 after their Powers-Johnson pick in the first round.

Kiper predicted Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe would be the 55th selection after he mocked Verse to the Dolphins at No. 21.

Miami's draft intentions should be clear based on all the predictions, and if it comes away from the first two rounds with a pair of interior players, it will have a successful draft.

There is a different avenue, though, that one draft expert believes the Dolphins should take in the second round.

Brugler predicted the Dolphins would take Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders in the second round.

Miami has notoriously not used tight ends a ton since Mike McDaniel took over, but why would you with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle dominating the touches in the passing game?

The Dolphins signed Jonnu Smith in free agency, but he is not as explosive as a younger tight end would be inside McDaniel's offense.

Sanders caught 99 passes in his two seasons at Texas. He had at least 600 yards in each campaign and averaged over 11 yards per catch.

Sanders only caught seven touchdown passes, including just two last season, so that could be a concern to fit the requirements of the position at the NFL level.

The Dolphins may take the risk with a tight end at No. 55 since they do not pick again until the fifth round at No. 158.