Talent evaluators give opinions on Fins’ draft prospects
Smith in the 12 range. His play is elite but the [166] pounds worries me. The difference with [Kansas City’s] Tyreek Hill is Hill has powerful arms and legs.
“I would not draft Smith in the top 10; you can’t take a chance that high with him at that size. He won’t hold up as a No.1 guy; you can’t go to him 10 times a game. There’s no way I would ever take him over Chase.”
Both evaluators said they had similar grades on Smith and his teammate, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle.
“Waddle is stronger [physically],” that evaluator said. “He impressed me in our meeting. Smart, accomplished, bright kid.”
Both were adamant that Alabama’s Najee Harris is the best running back in this draft, ahead of North Carolina’s Javonte Williams and Clemson’s Travis Etienne. Both ranked Williams second.
“I’ve got to take Harris if you want a No. 1 back,” one of the evaluators said. “I like Williams; he has great hands, strong, big, thick hips and legs, can break tackles, good instincts. But I think Harris is the only clear-cut bell-cow back of the three. He can catch, he’ll block, he’s big. He has durability.”
The other said he likes Harris so much that he would strongly consider taking him at 18, even though he acknowledges it’s not great value to take a back that high.
“Harris is one of my favorite players in this draft; he’s going to be a dominating back,” said that evaluator, who has been an NFL general manager. “He’s better than any back that has come out of Alabama. Better than Derrick Henry when he was coming out, in my view.
You should see him in workouts catching the ball; he looks like a receiver. He reminds me of Marshawn Lynch. And he’s very intelligent. I had Etienne ahead of Harris going into the season, but Harris changed my
AAalso studied Joseph Ossai of Texas, Azeez Ojulari of Georgia, Payton Turner of Houston and Miami’s Quincy Roche.
Ossai, by the way, has been of particular interest to the Dolphins, according to one scout.
On to the sexy offensive playmaker stuff:
As the draft picture has become clearer it seems Miami’s chances of landing Chase have not dimmed. It’s not necessarily what most mock drafts are saying, but the Cincinnati Bengals are said to be seriously weighing Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 5 to add protection for quarterback Joe Burrow.
If Sewell ends up in Cincy, Chase will probably be Miami’s pick despite the fact he has not played football since 2019 after opting out all of 2020.
Some teams, like the New York Giants, are being very careful about the idea of picking a player who opted out. The mind.”
Though that evaluator’s opinion was based on on-field performance and NFL-transferable skills, he noted how impressed he was that Harris “drove all night to Alabama to be there with his teammates to cheer them on” at the Senior Bowl and flew in from Dallas “to his Pro Day just to be there for the other players.”
A Among the receivers after Chase, Smith and Waddle, who else do they like?
One said Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman is his next favorite: “He has a chance to be a Pro Bowler. He’s not as strong or physical as Chase. But he’s got length, has really good hands and can run by you.” The other raved about Purdue’s Rondale Moore, especially his ability after the catch.
One of the evaluators said the best way to evaluate Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is to give him Pitts and Harris. “If you can’t do it with Pitts and Najee, then I don’t know,” he said. “That would set him up perfectly to be successful.”
A Among UM’s first-roundquality pass rushers, the evaluators preferred Jaelan Phil
ADolphins, obviously taking it on a case-by-case basis, seem to be less judgmental about players not participating in the 2020 season.
“For us to sit here and judge players on opt-outs for their reasons why, it’s unfair and I think it’s unrealistic,” Grier said.
This much must be said: When he was playing in 2019, Chase was the best wide receiver on a team that included Justin Jefferson, who was a wonderful addition as a rookie in Minnesota a year ago.
And Chase was arguably the best wide receiver in the SEC that also included Smith and Waddle.
The debate between Smith versus Waddle, by the way, is interesting. And it’s possible the 10 people in the Dolphins draft room the evening of April 29 will have to be more focused on a choice between Smith and Waddle if neither Pitts nor Chase is available.
That debate is basically a choice between a great hitter for average versus a great home run hitter.
Smith, smooth in his route running and techlips to Greg Rousseau.
“Tough call, but I lean Phillips,” one said. “I like how Phillips gets off blocks. He plays with maturity and instincts.
He’s what teams are looking for in a defensive end” or a 3-4 outside linebacker, potentially.
Among the front seven pass rushers, the other evaluator said among the players he particularly likes are Georgia’s Azeez Olujari and Wake Forest’s Carlos Basham. Olujari is a first-round possibility for Miami, Basham a second-day possibility:
“Azeez is not going to be an every down defensive end, but he can rush the passer. Basham tested very well; I know I’m in the minority, but I like him more than [Michigan’s] Kwity Paye. I studied both on tape, and I think Basham will be the better player. Outside pass rusher, can hold the edge.”
One evaluator said the Dolphins should do cartwheels if Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons somehow makes it to 18.
“He’s what everyone wants in a modern NFL linebacker,” that evaluator said. “I don’t see him getting to 18.” But neither advocated taking him at 6. nique, is the .300 hitter.
Waddle, a deep threat with elite speed, is more Pete Alonso, to put it in terms Mets fan and Dolphins coach Brian Flores will relate to.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has called the difference between the two “splitting hairs.”
“I have Waddle over DeVonta Smith,” Jeremiah said on a recent conference call with reporters when he was asked about either player going to the Giants. “I think DeVonta Smith would give you that pure route runner that’s going to be able to uncover and win on third downs and be kind of Daniel Jones’ best friend.”
The Dolphins intend to get Tagovailoa some more friends in this draft as well. And, it should be remembered, they would also like to find an edge rusher who is quite unfriendly to opposing quarterbacks.
Armando Salguero: 305-376-2387, @ArmandoSalguero
AAOne evaluator said he would take Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey on Day 2. The other said Miami can find a center on day three and he’s convinced Stanford’s Drew Dalman will be a long-term starter. Miami is thought to have interest in Humphrey, Alabama’s Landon Dickerson, Georgia’s Trey Hill and Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz among center prospects.
ACHATTER
Entering the weekend, only Larry Bird and Kevin Garnett have for an entire season matched the stat line Bam Adebayo is averaging: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1 steal and 80 percent on free throws. … And during clutch play (defined by the NBA as the final five minutes of games with a margin of five points or less), Adebayo is shooting 64.5 percent (20 for 31), second best behind only Atlanta’s Clint Capela.
One MLB scout who has closely watched Marlins infield prospect Jose Devers — who was promoted last week — worries about his durability but said “the one thing I know he can do is hit. He’s athletic enough to play shortstop, but I see him at second base long term.” … The Marlins are strong in middle infield prospects. Young shortstops Nasim Nunez (very good defensively) and Ian Lewis (power) have projectable bigleague skills.
After adding two wing players in the transfer portal, UM basketball is looking for a power forward. … UM people were disappointed about Don Chaney Jr.’s shoulder surgery; some felt he was best equipped to emerge as the starting running back for the Sept. 4 season opener against Alabama. It’s questionable if he will be healthy in time for that game. … Keep an eye on Keontra Smith, the former striker who might be the favorite now at weak-side linebacker.
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