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2017 NFL Mock Draft: With 22nd pick in ChatSports video mock, Dolphins select

NCAA Football: Mississippi at Vanderbilt Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Mock draft season is upon us, and the fine folks over at ChatSports were nice enough to let ThePhinsider participate in their yearly mock draft. Although this mock draft went a bit different than I expected, the player I’ve been enamored with throughout much of the offseason, fell directly into my lap at 22nd overall.

This video mock draft was done incredibly well. ChatSports had it look and feel exactly how the draft does in late April. The two analysts, Suzi Alvarez and Tom Downey do a great job of breaking down each team’s needs, and then the picks that shortly follow. This is a must watch for any football fan, especially those itching for #DraftSZN.

Below is the entire ChatSports mock draft, which features some of the best writers in the country. I make the Dolphins selection right around the 1:58 mark.

SPOILER ALERT

If a guy like O.J Howard or Taco Charlton fall into the Dolphins lap at 22, the decision would’ve been a lot more difficult. However, heading into the offseason I view the Dolphins’ linebacker core as the position in which the team must fix in the immediate future. Yes, a pass rush specialist like Takkarist McKinley could’ve been drafted, or one of the corners from Florida to help sure up Miami’s secondary. I’m still holding out hope that the Dolphins somehow pry Dont’a Hightower from the evil empire up in New England, but this continues to be nothing more than a pipe dream. Whether it be via trade or free agency, the Dolphins should find a way to sure up their MLB spot prior to the draft.

I did an in-depth write up on Zach Cunningham earlier in the season, and believe that he’d be the perfect fit for the Dolphins less-than-stellar defense. Miami finished 30th in the NFL against the run, and continues to struggle defending tight ends. Cunningham has a similar build to Kiko Alonso, but appears to be faster and able to disengage from most blocks with relative ease. Zach Cunningham is a playmaker, and something that the Dolphins desperately need in their struggling front-seven. Whether he plays outside, or the team tries to slide him inside-similar to what they did with Kiko in 2016-Zach Cuningham would be a big-time playmaker for the Miami Dolphins.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think in the comments.