20 potential Dolphins targets to watch at the 2021 Senior Bowl,
Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and his staff will spend the week coaching top NFL draft prospects in Mobile, Alabama in advance of Saturday’s Senior Bowl game. All eyes undoubtedly will be on Alabama stars Devonta Smith and Najee Harris.
With the NFL scouting combine canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the draft showcase has emerged as the most important scouting event of the offseason.
Smith and Harris — who are both projected as first-round picks, and likely targets for the playmaker-starved Dolphins — have been assigned to the National team that will be coached by the Dolphins.
Smith, projected by many draft analysts to be selected by Miami with the No. 3 pick, won’t be taking part in any on-field sessions due to a finger injury he suffered in the national championship game.
If Harris doesn’t pull out of participating in Saturday’s game because of an ankle injury, a strong week of practice could ensure he ends up as a first-round pick.
The Dolphins own the Nos. 3 and 18 picks in the first round of April’s draft and hold four selections among the top 50 picks — courtesy of the trade that sent Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans before last season. According to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, the team’s top priority this offseason is to add playmakers to the roster, and Smith and Harris certainly could fill that void.
Here’s a look at 20 Senior Bowl players the Dolphins could target in the draft, with a focus on positions of need (wide receiver, running back and edge rusher):
Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith: The Heisman Trophy winning wide receiver amassed 1,856 receiving yards and scored 23 receiving touchdowns last season. He’ll attend Senior Bowl meetings and practices, but not participate in practices or the game because of his injury. In the national championship game, Smith had 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of the Crimson Tide’s 52-24 win over Ohio State. He didn’t play in the second half after dislocating a finger on his right hand, adding fuel to the perception that his thin frame (listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds in college) could lead to durability concerns in the NFL. But he remains a legitimate option for the Dolphins with the No. 3 pick.
Alabama running back Najee Harris: Harris is regarded as the best running back prospect at the Senior Bowl. Harris, who rushed for 3,843 yards on 638 carries and scored 57 touchdowns during his four-year career at Alabama, looks like a perfect fit for Miami’s scheme. Not only does he run with power and vision, but he also has pass-catching ability out of the backfield (80 receptions for 781 yards and 11 touchdown catches at Alabama) and can pass block.
North Carolina running back Michael Carter: Carter and Javonte Williams comprised one of the top running back tandems in the nation. Carter, who gained 3,404 rushing yards and scored 28 touchdowns in his four seasons, possesses elite footwork, and has a second gear to run for long touchdowns. He can use the Senior Bowl
to prove he’s one of the top pass receiving backs in this draft.
Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney: The 6-foot, 193-pound senior led Florida in catches (62), receiving yards (831) and all-purpose yards (1,228). Toney’s elusiveness makes him an openfield weapon and potential special teams threat; he broke 32 tackles on 80 catches over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus, one of the country’s highest rates. Toney’s route tree is considered somewhat limited and he’s projected as a slot receiver. But he’s a potential first-round pick and likely wouldn’t fall far into Day 2.
Wake Forest wide receiver Sage Surratt: The 6-3, 215-pound redshirt junior opted out of Wake Forest’s 2020 season to prepare for the draft. In 2019, Surratt had 66 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns last season in just nine games, missing the final four games with a shoulder injury. Surratt bullied college cornerbacks with his strength and physicality — he caught 18 of 30 contested balls and broke 17 tackles last year, according to PFF — but his deep speed is a question mark. Still, his clean route running and tenacious blocking should make him a potential mid-round target.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace: The 6-foot, 190-pound senior had 59 catches for 922 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He returned to Oklahoma State after tearing his ACL in 2019, when he had 53 catches for 903 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. Last season, he ranked third in yards per route run among Power Five conference outside receivers, according to PFF. Wallace doesn’t have great size or elite speed, and his injury history could be a red
flag. But with his burst and jumpball ability, Wallace can threaten defenses at every level, and could go as early as the second round.
Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins: Collins has outstanding physical attributes at 6-4, 215, and possesses reliable hands. But he sat out the 2020 season due to COVID-19. A solid Senior Bowl performance from Collins, who caught 78 passes for 1,388 yards and 13 touchdowns during his three seasons, would do wonders to silence concerns about his ability to run a full route tree.
Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey: The 6-5, 320-pound redshirt junior is a two-time All-American and two-time Big 12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year. According to PFF, he never allowed a sack during his three-year career as a starter, and he had easily the country’s best negatively graded run-block rate in 2020. A former wrestler, Humphrey is considered a reliable pre-snap communicator with excellent strength and good hands. His athletic limitations will likely keep him out of the first round, but Humphrey should be one of the first centers taken. There’s no doubt the Dolphins should have their eyes on him.
North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt: When he arrived at Chapel Hill, he was a quarterback recruit before flipping to the defensive side of the ball. After making the switch to defense in 2019, Surratt produced 207 tackles, 12 ½ sacks and 22 ½ tackles for a loss. The 6-2, 225-pound Surratt is incredibly athletic. He needs to be impactful against the run and solid in coverage to ensure he’s a top-50 selection.
Miami edge rusher Quincy Roche: The 6-3, 245-pound edge
rusher ranked third in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 ½ tackles for loss in 10 games. Roche transferred to Miami after three seasons at Temple, including a standout 2019 in which he ranked fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 13 sacks. Roche lined up at defensive end for the Hurricanes but, with his lean frame and varied pass-rush experience, likely projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. His technical ability sets him apart, and a strong pre-draft showing could secure his Day 2 credentials.
Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham Jr.: The 6-5, 285-pound redshirt senior had five sacks and 28 tackles (5 ½ for a loss) in seven games, and saw the country’s longest active streak of games with a tackle for loss end at 23 in late October. In 2019, “Boogie” led the Demon Deacons with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss. Basham typically wins as a pass rusher with power, angles and effort, rather than burst and bend, but his size means he could move inside. His pre-draft testing will impress, as he reportedly bench-presses more than 400 pounds, squats more than 700 pounds and has been timed at 4.21 seconds in the short shuttle.
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson: The 6-5, 305-pound senior had one sack and 17 tackles (two for a loss) in six games and earned second-team All-ACC honors. But Wilson’s final Florida State season was considered a letdown after his breakout junior season, when he had five sacks and 44 tackles (8 ½ for a loss) in nine games. A leg injury ended his 2020 season, which had started with first-round buzz, just as a hand injury cut short his 2019 season. Wilson’s power and pass-rush ability as an interior lineman are tantalizing, but he’ll have to prove he’s well rounded and worthy of a Day 2 pick.
Alabama quarterback QB Mac Jones: Jones operated college football’s most explosive offense and won a championship with the Crimson Tide this past season. Jones threw 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions during his collegiate career. The challenge for Jones in Mobile will be to demonstrate that his success was not simply a product of the extraordinary amount of talent around him. He’s the most accomplished Senior Bowl quarterback, and needs to look like it.
Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman: Heading into the 2020 season, Newman was a quarterback prospect that was trending upward. He had flashed a bit at Wake Forest, racking up 2,878 passing yards and 574 rushing yards, to go along with 32 total touchdowns. Newman transferred to Georgia over the summer, but opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19.
Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood:Leatherwood won the Outland Trophy for his body of work at Alabama. His strength, toughness and football acumen should allow him to anchor an NFL offensive line for years to come. A strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl could lock up his standing as a first-round pick.
LSU linebacker Jabril Cox: Cox, who was a transfer out of North Dakota State where he won three national championships at the Football Championship Subdivision level, had a solid season after transferring to LSU. He was among LSU’s most consistent players on a mediocre defense, recording 58 tackles, 6 ½ tackles for a loss, one sack, three interceptions and one touchdown. A solid week could push this top-shelf athlete into the first round.
Alabama guard Deonte Brown: The 6-4, 350-pound redshirt senior earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors, mostly playing at right guard. According to PFF, Brown didn’t allow a sack over his last three seasons at Alabama. He’s one of the most physically imposing players in the class, and his size allows him to wash out linemen as a run blocker and anchor impressively in pass protection. However, his boulder-like frame can also limit him as a second-level blocker, and he struggled at times with quicktwitch pass rushers. Brown’s considered a mid-round prospect.
Central Florida safety Richie Grant: Grant, who produced 290 tackles and 10 interceptions for the Golden Knights, is a fluid athlete who is explosive in short areas. He needs to use the Senior Bowl to prove he’s a versatile defender who fits into any scheme.
Boston College tight end Hunter Long: Over the course of his Eagles career, Long has amassed 1,297 receiving yards on 89 receptions. He also has nine career touchdowns, with five of them coming last season. At 6-5, 253 pounds, he needs to use the Senior Bowl to prove he’s an effective blocker.
Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas: After opting out of the 2020 season, Thomas needs the Senior Bowl to show he’s worked off the rust. Thomas, who recorded 54 tackles and four interceptions in his three seasons with the Wolverines, has the ability to re-route receivers, but needs to show he has the patience and coverage skills to stick with speedsters downfield.