Tag: Patrick McMorris

Instant analysis of Dolphins’ No. 198 overall pick S Patrick McMorris

The Dolphins needed depth at safety and addressed that by adding Patrick McMorris to their secondary.

The Miami Dolphins had Eric Rowe and Brandon Jones at strong safety in 2022. Last season, they brought in DeShon Elliott for the role on a one-year deal. Earlier this offseason, the Dolphins signed 33-year-old Jordan Poyer to a one-year deal.

While Miami has a rising star at free safety in Jevon Holland, the team hasn’t been able to find a consistent player to pair with him in the secondary.

Could sixth-round pick Patrick McMorris be that player?

Most likely, no. Hoping to find a starter in the sixth round is usually a fool’s errand. But McMorris, at the very least, offers depth that wasn’t there for the Dolphins.

Aside from Holland and Poyer, the only other safety on the roster was Elijah Campbell, a former waiver claim who was on the field for 141 defensive snaps last season.

McMorris is a physical safety with the requisite size (6’0, 207 pounds) and intelligence to play the position. While his propensity for missed tackles and his lack of burst and speed are concerning, McMorris is well-positioned to make the 53-man roster as the backup for Poyer.

His path to the roster will be awfully challenging if he doesn’t prove himself a capable special teams contributor, though.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Dolphins pick Cal S Patrick McMorris at No. 198 in 2024 NFL draft

Could Patrick McMorris be the Dolphins’ solution to their revolving door at strong safety?

The Miami Dolphins selected California safety Patrick McMorris with the No. 198 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Strong safety has been revolving door for the Dolphins. The team brought in DeShon Elliott on a one-year deal to man the position in 2023 and signed 33-year-old Jordan Poyer to a one-year deal for the 2024 season.

McMorris may not have the athleticism to eventually take over a starting role, but he offers the Dolphins another option at the position.

The 6’0, 207-pounder has the size, physicality, and smooth hips required to be a force in the middle of a defense. He’s struggled, however, with missed tackles and doesn’t have the ideal speed and explosion to be a reliable player in coverage.

Still, it’s a good fit for the Dolphins at a position of need and offers a player who could compete for snaps in the Miami secondary.

McMorris is the sixth member of the team’s 2024 draft class after pass rusher Chop Robinson, offensive tackle Patrick Paul, running back Jaylen Wright, pass rusher Mohamed Kamara, and wide receiver Malik Washington.

After picking McMorris, the Dolphins are now scheduled to pick just one more time with the No. 241 overall pick in the seventh round.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Pro Football Network sends Vikings DB — not QB — in latest mock draft

Cam Mellor of Pro Football Network sends the Minnesota Vikings some defensive help in the first round, and a host of other players in his latest 7-round mock draft

In somewhat of a surprise, Pro Football Network’s Cam Mellor is going against the grain with his selection for the Minnesota Vikings and sending them some help in the secondary rather than at quarterback. In his latest mock draft, Mellor has the Vikings selecting former Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Cooper DeJean with the 11th pick.

Here’s what Mellor has to say about the selection:

Iowa cornerbacks are always going to be pro-ready, and that’s just what Cooper DeJean presents for the Minnesota Vikings. A late-season injury forced him out of the Big Ten Championship, but DeJean should be ready to go by minicamp.

He’s a speedster on the outside with plenty of length and burst. DeJean comes fully equipped with elite ball skills and a special teams ability that rivals everyone in this class.

DeJean is an interesting pick for the Vikings here, especially with how the board fell in this scenario. While the Vikings could certainly benefit from help in their secondary, conventional wisdom would say that quarterback is the more pressing need — especially if Kirk Cousins isn’t going to be back healthy next season.

Mellor continued on after the first round and projected the entirety of the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s who he tabbed for the Vikings in rounds 2 through 7: