At least six players could draw Round 1 interest
Miami Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly breaks down the 2018 NFL draft in a 10-part series.
1. Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson – Nelson is massive (6-5, 330 pounds) and mobile. He has a mean streak that reminds many evaluators of Dallas’ Zack Martin, which indicates that he could be the safest prospect in the 2018 draft.
2. Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams – Williams has good feet, ideal arm length and a brawler’s mentality. The only concern about him is whether or not he’s quick enough to handle elite passer rushers in the NFL.
3. Georgia offensive guard Isaiah Wynn – Tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel benefited from Wynn’s sensational run blocking. While he possesses good body control and balance, his limited size (6-2, 302 pounds) is a bit concerning, and indicates he might not be a good fit for every scheme.
4. UTEP offensive guard Will Hernandez – Hernandez was a high school defensive tackle, and he continues to play with that aggressive, physical temperament, which reminds plenty of evaluators of Buffalo Bills offensive guard Richie Incognito. The biggest concern surrounding his game is the level of competition he’s faced. 5. Iowa center James Daniels Daniels plays with strength and power that creates movement in the run game because of his quick feet. The fact he won’t turn 21 until September indicates that he will continue to develop.
Best of the rest: Ohio State center Billy Price, Mississippi State offensive tackle Martinas Rankin, Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown, UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller, Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor, Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, Pittsburgh offensive tackle Brian O’Neill and Nevada offensive guard Austin Corbett are viewed as top-50 talents, and should all be taken in the first three rounds. Players like North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker, Ohio State offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, Auburn’s Branden Smith and Virginia Tech’s Wyatt Teller could become third-day gems for teams willing to be patient with their development. Class grade: B Last year was an off year for offensive linemen considering only two tackles were selected in the first round. This year, the class is back with a vengeance as six offensive linemen have first-round grades, and a couple more could sneak into the first round based on the need for good offensive linemen accross the league. Offensive guard Quenton Nelson is considered one of the top-5 prospects in the draft class, and two centers – Ohio State’s Billy Price and Iowa’s James Daniels – could become Day 1 starters.
Teams in Need: The Browns, Giants, Jets, Broncos, Colts, Bears, 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Packers, Cardinals, Ravens, Chargers, Texans, Seahawks, Bengals, Rams, Titans, Saints, Jaguars, Vikings and Patriots all need offensive line help. And considering how expensive that position is becoming — free agents are commanding $40 million-$50 million contracts — don’t be surprised if teams that don’t have an immediate need draft one in rounds two through four to groom as someone’s replacement.
Dolphins’ focus: Miami has three young starters in left tackle Laremy Tunsil, right tackle Ja’Wuan James, and right guard Jesse Davis who are promising talents, but are all still developing. Depth at the position is also solid because of this offseason’s addition of Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore, the re-signing of Sam Young, and Ted Larsen’s presence. For once, this isn’t a position of concern for the Dolphins, but it would benefit Miami if a young tackle and guard were added in the later rounds to be groomed for the future.