We have no idea what the Miami Dolphins 2021 NFL Draft picture would look like this afternoon. But what we do know is that the tightest consensus in this year’s draft is Kyle Pitts of Florida and the seemingly top consensus consensus in this year’s draft is LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase. Are their resumes good? There is a viable chance, thanks to the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals, that neither of these players will last until the sixth overall choice – when the Miami Dolphins go into action.
That is the bad news.
But the good news for the Dolphins is that a recent report by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated seems to indicate that the Miami Dolphins can avoid a potential “doomsday” scenario in the NFL’s 2021 Draft, where neither the top tight end or the top wide receiver lasts until general choice # 6. The report derives from Breer’s weekly MMQB column and highlights the intentions of the Atlanta Falcons, who are scheduled to pick fourth overall.
“The first three choices are talked about. And that leaves the Falcons as a team to watch – one that will have to make a decision of their choice with some complicated finances in the quarterback (due to all of Matt Ryan’s restructuring), and a team that needs cheaper young talent with which surround your nucleus, ”wrote Breer.
“My guess is that the Falcons will be in 4th position and take a defender, because I don’t think they want to count on this increase again and this is a very strong year in the position. But I know that they are open to the idea of changing their choice and have had exploratory conversations with other teams in a deal that would make someone else move up to fourth place.
Exploratory conversations with other starving defender teams are certainly something to note – although the Carolina Panthers’ decision to switch to QB Sam Darnold may impact the trade market’s urgency for this year’s draft. And if that’s the case, Miami can be pressured and see the Falcons TE Kyle Pitts project on the principle of “best player available” But if there are enough teams willing to fight each other for a quarterback and the Falcons get a sweet deal enough to force them to act and follow the calls they’ve already received, the Dolphins will certainly see at least one TE1 and WR1 on the board for them in 6th overall.