2021 NFL Mock Draft: Bucky Brooks 2.0 looks to give Dolphins offense firepower

It is definitely mock draft season now, with the 2021 free agency period slowing for the NFL and the annual college prospect selection process just over a month away. As we all start turning our attentions to the 2021 NFL Draft, we will continue to see mock drafts released all over the place. Another of those projections was released yesterday as NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks published his 2.0 mock.

He started the prediction where every mock draft starts, with the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Then he has the New York Jets select Oregon tackle Penei Sewell.

That brings us to the Miami Dolphins, who hold the third-overall pick after a 2019 trade with the Houston Texans. Brooks projects Miami to use that selection to add LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He explains, “The signing of Will Fuller won’t prevent the Dolphins from adding another perimeter playmaker to the mix.”

The Dolphins adding Chase would give them a trio of receivers featuring DeVante Parker, the newly signed Will Fuller, and Chase. It would create a matchup nightmare for defending teams, and it would provide second-year quarterback Tua Tagaovailoa with the weapons he needs to take the next step forward in his development.

The addition of offensive firepower for the Dolphins did not end with the third pick in Brooks’ mock. Miami’s own selection, the 18th-overall pick, also lands the Dolphins with a missing piece for the offense, and one with whom Tagovailoa should be familiar. Brooks predicts Miami use this pick on Alabama running back Najee Harris, Tagovailoa’s college teammate. Brooks explains, “The addition of a big-time running back with dynamic skills as a runner and receiver would enable the Dolphins to take some of the pressure off Tua Tagovailoa. Harris is a Matt Forte-like playmaker with big-play ability out of the backfield.”

Let the debate over a first-round running back commence. It would be a smart pick for the Dolphins, adding Harris to Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, and the newly signed Malcolm Brown. He likely becomes the immediate starter - but do not rule out Gaskin who proved he can be the lead back last year - and he does provide the Dolphins with a receiving threat out of the backfield as well.

If Miami comes out of the first round with Chase and Harris, they have immediately upgraded their offense and look like they are ready to compete this year. They can then use the rest of the Draft to address the offensive line and edge rushers, as well as look toward the best players available regardless of position. Selecting Chase and Harris sets up the Dolphins to have six rounds of pure flexibility.