The 2020 NFL draft is still a month away, but this is the time teams really dig into the background of players and start to solidify and hone in on the players they feel are a good fit for their organization. In other words, it’s starting to get real right about now.
Part of that process involves meeting with some of the potential draft picks teams want to get a better feel on. Under the rules, each team is allowed 30 visits from non-local players to meet in predraft visits.
In the case of J.K. Dobbins, the Dolphins reportedly moved up his visit because of concerns that this allowance may be pulled back because of all the coronavirus measures being put in place. He was originally scheduled to meet with the Dolphins’ brass in mid-April, but instead was brought in last Friday, March 13 according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.
Per source, Dolphins are so high on Ohio State RB JK Dobbins that they moved up his "30" visit from mid April to today in case league eliminates 30 visits as part of coronavirus response. Teams can bring in 30 non-local players for predraft visits.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 13, 2020
Miami currently holds the No. 5 pick in the draft, but will almost assuredly not use that pick on Dobbins as it would be an extreme reach based on all the mock projections out there. But he is considered a late first-round, early second guy, and there’s a chance either the Dolphins make a trade to move up earlier to take him, or hope he’s still there when things come back around as the second pick in round two.
I know it’s not a running back’s game anymore, but if Dobbins ends up going early in the second round, that sure feels like quite the bargain for a guy with his blend of speed, strength, vision, and character.