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The Miami Dolphins didn’t draft the player most predicted they would take in the first round Thursday night.
But neither did any other team.
As the Dolphins passed on Michigan cornerback Will Johnson to take fellow Wolverines defender Kenneth Grant, a big nose tackle who moves well for his size at 330 pounds, could they end up with Johnson in the second round Friday night? They own the 16th pick of the round, No. 48 overall.
Concerns over Johnson’s knee across the league were clearly more grave than most draft pundits anticipated.
It was known Johnson had a significant injury history, between his turf toe which cut his final college season short, a hamstring issue which kept him from running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine or at Michigan’s pro day, a previous knee injury he had surgery to repair and a separate shoulder issue.
But all that was only supposed to be the reason he might fall outside of the top 10, where the Dolphins could potentially snag him with the No. 13 pick Thursday.
Johnson falling out of the first round entirely seemed out of the question. His prototypical 6-2 frame with long arms, combined with exceptional abilities in coverage and ball skills are all expected to translate well to the NFL.
The ultimate question for the Dolphins, though: How bad is that knee?
If the rest of the league is merely being overcautious in steering clear, could he be the steal of the draft for someone?
Could this knee issue possibly require another surgery, either putting a significant dent into his rookie season or not allowing him to suit up at all in 2025?
If that’s the case, a gamble on Johnson could be something for a team in a rebuild, who can afford to miss his talent for a full season and then bank on him being the prospect he was scouted to be down the road.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has already made clear this team is not in a rebuild, even as it’s in trade talks involving elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey. That’s something that only contributes more to the need at the position, but Ramsey is a topic for another day.
As Grier and coach Mike McDaniel are possibly feeling the heat, can they really take a chance on Johnson if he won’t play next season? Then, Johnson may become the next regime’s great young player if the Dolphins falter again in 2025 and owner Steve Ross makes a change at the top.
But it’s not all about Johnson as the Dolphins still have their cornerback hole unfilled heading into Rounds 2 and 3 Friday night.
There are still plenty of quality cornerbacks available. After all, Miami also passed up on Texas’ Jahdae Barron, who went to the Denver Broncos with the 20th pick, so they had to like cornerbacks projected to go later.
“We feel good. We feel it’s a deeper group of guys,” Grier said. “Corners come through all rounds here. Kansas City in the past has played with guys we were looking at who were fifth- and seventh-rounders. Mike was talking in San Francisco, their Super Bowl year, there were guys that were late-round players playing. So it’s a good draft with a lot of talented kids, and it’s just finding the right one for us.”
Grier has indeed had success finding young cornerbacks. Xavien Howard, a second-round pick in 2016, was one of his best draft picks since taking over as GM that year. He has had undrafted gets in current nickel corner Kader Kohou; Nik Needham, who spent six years with the Dolphins; and Storm Duck, an undrafted free agent last season who made the roster and can compete for more playing time this season.
Some of the cornerbacks Miami can take in Round 2 include East Carolina’s Shavon Revel, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison, Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, Iowa State’s Darien Porter and Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas.
And it doesn’t have to be a cornerback either. The Dolphins can still look to the offensive line, where they’ll have a vacancy for a starting guard. Elsewhere in the secondary, they could go for a safety. Those are two options among a number of ways it can go for them Friday night.
After the 48th pick, Miami doesn’t select again until No. 98, a compensatory pick at the end of the third round. With seven Day 3 picks, the team can surely opt to dangle some of that late-draft capital to move up as it may please Friday.
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But neither did any other team.
As the Dolphins passed on Michigan cornerback Will Johnson to take fellow Wolverines defender Kenneth Grant, a big nose tackle who moves well for his size at 330 pounds, could they end up with Johnson in the second round Friday night? They own the 16th pick of the round, No. 48 overall.
Concerns over Johnson’s knee across the league were clearly more grave than most draft pundits anticipated.
It was known Johnson had a significant injury history, between his turf toe which cut his final college season short, a hamstring issue which kept him from running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine or at Michigan’s pro day, a previous knee injury he had surgery to repair and a separate shoulder issue.
But all that was only supposed to be the reason he might fall outside of the top 10, where the Dolphins could potentially snag him with the No. 13 pick Thursday.
Johnson falling out of the first round entirely seemed out of the question. His prototypical 6-2 frame with long arms, combined with exceptional abilities in coverage and ball skills are all expected to translate well to the NFL.
The ultimate question for the Dolphins, though: How bad is that knee?
If the rest of the league is merely being overcautious in steering clear, could he be the steal of the draft for someone?
Could this knee issue possibly require another surgery, either putting a significant dent into his rookie season or not allowing him to suit up at all in 2025?
If that’s the case, a gamble on Johnson could be something for a team in a rebuild, who can afford to miss his talent for a full season and then bank on him being the prospect he was scouted to be down the road.
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Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has already made clear this team is not in a rebuild, even as it’s in trade talks involving elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey. That’s something that only contributes more to the need at the position, but Ramsey is a topic for another day.
As Grier and coach Mike McDaniel are possibly feeling the heat, can they really take a chance on Johnson if he won’t play next season? Then, Johnson may become the next regime’s great young player if the Dolphins falter again in 2025 and owner Steve Ross makes a change at the top.
But it’s not all about Johnson as the Dolphins still have their cornerback hole unfilled heading into Rounds 2 and 3 Friday night.
There are still plenty of quality cornerbacks available. After all, Miami also passed up on Texas’ Jahdae Barron, who went to the Denver Broncos with the 20th pick, so they had to like cornerbacks projected to go later.
“We feel good. We feel it’s a deeper group of guys,” Grier said. “Corners come through all rounds here. Kansas City in the past has played with guys we were looking at who were fifth- and seventh-rounders. Mike was talking in San Francisco, their Super Bowl year, there were guys that were late-round players playing. So it’s a good draft with a lot of talented kids, and it’s just finding the right one for us.”
Grier has indeed had success finding young cornerbacks. Xavien Howard, a second-round pick in 2016, was one of his best draft picks since taking over as GM that year. He has had undrafted gets in current nickel corner Kader Kohou; Nik Needham, who spent six years with the Dolphins; and Storm Duck, an undrafted free agent last season who made the roster and can compete for more playing time this season.
Some of the cornerbacks Miami can take in Round 2 include East Carolina’s Shavon Revel, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison, Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, Iowa State’s Darien Porter and Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas.
And it doesn’t have to be a cornerback either. The Dolphins can still look to the offensive line, where they’ll have a vacancy for a starting guard. Elsewhere in the secondary, they could go for a safety. Those are two options among a number of ways it can go for them Friday night.
After the 48th pick, Miami doesn’t select again until No. 98, a compensatory pick at the end of the third round. With seven Day 3 picks, the team can surely opt to dangle some of that late-draft capital to move up as it may please Friday.
Continue reading...
