With the Dolphins‘ coaching staff set for the upcoming season, questions now turn to what they will do in the draft. For both new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley, drafting is paramount to long-term success.
Going into the draft, it is clear that the Dolphins have a lot of needs at certain positions, especially on the offensive side of the ball. That is why FanSided’s latest mock draft, has the Dolphins selecting one of the best wide receiver prospects in the class in the third round.
Malachi Fields has been one of college football’s most polarizing receivers over the past couple of years, as he has been somewhat of a journeyman. After spending the first four years of his college career in Virginia, he spent last season with Notre Dame in a standout role. While it wasn’t as impressive as expected, he still made a positive impact.
He ended up averaging a career high 17.5 yards per reception from just 36 catches and ended up tallying 630 yards last year. While with the Cavaliers, he averaged around 55 catches and 880 yards per year, in an explosive offensive attack, he was the perfect supplementary player who added size to the Fighting Irish receiving corps.
A Size-Speed Complement to Miami’s Current Core
With a strong rebound performance in the Senior Bowl, Fields slightly improved his stock, and while Notre Dame did not end up getting back to the playoffs, they still had a 10-2 record and a high national profile. That is why the Dolphins could potentially take a swing at him in the middle rounds of the draft.
It seems clear that the Dolphins have grown disenchanted with Tyreek Hill after his season ending injury and his many cryptic comments about the team throughout the season as chronicled on his X account. That would leave Jaylen Waddle as the only WR capable of being a true WR1, but not other skill position players outside of Achane at running back that add an explosive element to the offense.
Add in the fact that the Dolphins still don’t know who their QB will be next year and chances are they may want a player who can become a weapon in this offense without having to dip into their cap space.
Fields’ best trait to perfectly complement Waddle’s speed is his size. At 6-4, he can be a huge mismatch for opposing corners and he can display that strength in his route running abilities as well. Some of the player comps he has already received have been both Tee Higgins and Nico Collins, who are both exceptional in terms of body control and using their size to their advantage.
A Calculated Risk in the Middle Rounds
Going into this draft, there are a lot of unknowns for the Dolphins. Still, that does not mean they won’t take risks. After all, it’s what both Hafley and Sullivan did with the Packers. By drafting a player like Fields, they both will be investing in the growth of this roster in the first stages of its rebuild.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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