Despite NFL free agency being right around the corner, the 32 teams and their fanbases are already putting a lot of time and energy into researching the 2022 draft.
There seems to be a new move every day that changes how the draft could play out. Between the massive quarterback moves, Calvin Ridley’s suspension, and the franchise tag deadline, this past week has already affected a lot.
With those moves in mind, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his newest mock draft on Wednesday. In this mock draft, the Dolphins did something that their fans probably won’t be too happy if it happens, and that’s trading back.
McShay has Miami completing a trade with the Atlanta Falcons that would give the NFC South team the No. 29 pick. In exchange, the Dolphins receive a second-rounder (No. 43) as well as a pick in the third and fifth.
Here’s what McShay wrote about that decision:
“With four picks left in Round 1, only two quarterbacks have been selected. That means teams could be eyeing a move to grab one and secure the fifth-year option as they develop him. The Falcons — who drafted receiver Drake London earlier — take the leap here, sending one of their second-rounders (No. 43), a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder to the Dolphins for the No. 29 slot. Miami, which originally acquired this pick from the 49ers as part of last year’s trade involving San Francisco’s eventual selection of Trey Lance, can still find offensive line help early in the second round. Look for the Dolphins to consider Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann or Washington State’s Abraham Lucas on Day 2.”
The idea isn’t unrealistic. There’s a chance that the Dolphins see value in moving back and collecting more picks. However, in this specific example, if they are targeting the offensive line and Boston College’s Zion Johnson is still on the board (McShay has him going No. 31 to Cincinnati), the Dolphins may be better off taking the versatile lineman and pairing him with his former positional coach Matt Applebaum.