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We don’t have any idea what the Miami Dolphins’ 2021 NFL Draft board looks like as of this afternoon. But what we do know is that the consensus top tight end in this year’s draft is Florida’s Kyle Pitts and the seemingly consensus top wide receiver in this year’s draft is LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase. How good are both of their resumes? There’s a viable chance, thanks to the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals, that neither of these two players lasts until the No. 6 overall pick — when the Miami Dolphins come on the clock.
That’s the bad news.
But the good news for the Dolphins is that a recent report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer seems to indicate that the Miami Dolphins may avoid a potential “doomsday” scenario in the 2021 NFL Draft where neither the top tight end or the top wide receiver last until the No. 6 overall pick. The report stems from Breer’s weekly MMQB column and highlights the intentions of the Atlanta Falcons, who are currently scheduled to pick at No. 4 overall.
“The first three picks are spoken for. And that leaves the Falcons as a team to watch—one that’s going to have to make a decision on its pick with some complicated finances at quarterback (due to all Matt Ryan’s restructures), and a team in need of cheaper young talent with which to surround its core,” wrote Breer.
“My guess has been that the Falcons will stick at No. 4 and take a quarterback, because I don’t think they want to count on picking that high again and this happens to be a really strong year at the position. But I do know they’re open to the idea of trading the pick and have had exploratory talks with other teams on a deal that would have someone else moving up to No. 4.”
Exploratory talks with other quarterback hungry teams is certainly something to note — although the Carolina Panthers’ decision to trade for QB Sam Darnold may impact the urgency of the trade market for this year’s draft. And if that is the case, Miami may get squeezed and see the Falcons draft TE Kyle Pitts on a “best player available” principle. But if there are enough teams willing to jostle against one another for a quarterback and the Falcons get a deal sweet enough to force them to act and follow through on the calls they’ve already had, the Dolphins would be guaranteed to see at least one of TE1 & WR1 on the board for them at No. 6 overall.