The mock drafts are starting to pour in hot and heavy. The 2020 NFL Draft is just two and a half weeks away, meaning the production of draft simulations is ramping up to fully explore the possible outcomes in every way imaginable. USA TODAY’s Draft Wire has unveiled their latest 2020 NFL Mock Draft — and it did not disappoint. Inside, the Miami Dolphins attacked their offensive rebuild with a familiar blueprint for Dolphins fans, electing to draft a quarterback and an offensive tackle with their first two selections. The players chosen are sure to cause a stir, particularly at quarterback.
The Dolphins, in Draft Wire’s scenario, passed over Tua Tagovailoa for the chance to draft Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert — a move that was prompted by much of the smoke coming from the major media outlets that seems to indicate the Dolphins fit with Tagovailoa isn’t as locked in as many would believe.
“…there might be some fire to this smoke. There’s no denying Tua Tagovailoa’s incredible upside, but there’s also no arguing the long-term durability concerns, considering his injury history. If the Dolphins want a safer bet, don’t be surprised if they prefer Herbert here.” – Luke Easterling, Draft Wire
If the Dolphins are indeed going to draft Herbert, the team would be wise to continue their heavy investments along the offensive line, which is exactly what the team did in the remainder of the first round. Miami selected two offensive linemen with their remaining first round picks, hauling in Houston tackle Josh Jones and Michigan interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz.
Such a move would provide Miami with an offensive front of Josh Jones, Ereck Flowers, Ted Karras, Cesar Ruiz and Jesse Davis — an undoubtedly upgraded unit over what the team fielded in 2019. And if that were the case, the Dolphins would be well positioned to learn from the biggest lesson of the Ryan Tannehill era in Miami: it’s hard to be a good quarterback without a competent offensive line.