And then there were none. The Miami Dolphins entered today’s opening day of 2021 training camp with just one member of their 2021 NFL draft class left unsigned — 2nd-round draft choice Liam Eichenberg. But with the opening of training camp today, the Dolphins have finalized the last of the fine print and they’re officially locked and loaded with their entire class of the 2021 NFL draft.
The team announced this morning, shortly after the players arrived at team facilities, that Eichenberg has inked his first NFL contract.
.@LiamEichenberg puts pen to paper and signs his rookie contract! pic.twitter.com/zY6sCQCeH2
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) July 27, 2021
It took the Dolphins every bit of time between the end of the 2021 NFL draft and the start of training camp, but the team did successfully secure their entire class before the first practice, which will take place tomorrow. There are a handful of rookie players across the league who have yet to sign their contracts, including the No. 2 overall pick and the presumed starting quarterback for the New York Jets, Zach Wilson.
Thankfully, there are no Dolphins to be included in that exclusive club and Eichenberg can shift his focus forward to trying to secure a starting role among the Dolphins’ starting front five this fall — a task that he will presumably have the inside track on after being made the No. 42 overall pick, but not a guarantee. The most similar player to Eichenberg’s situation from Miami’s rookie crop last season was Robert Hunt (drafted No. 39 overall in 2020). And, sure enough, Hunt did not start the year as a starting offensive lineman due to the presence of rookies at left tackle (Austin Jackson) and right guard (Solomon Kindley). With no other rookies projecting to compete for starting roles this season, however, Eichenberg’s draft status brings expectations that the Dolphins will be eager to see manifest themselves during camp.
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