The dynamics of the Miami Dolphins’ first roster in the 2021 NFL Draft is much debated. We know what’s at stake for a Dolphins team adapting to provide the best possible supporting cast to their sophomore quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Whether Miami opts for an assault weapon (Kyle Pitts), a wide receiver, or a top-tier loadout – we are expected to see the Dolphins find an offensive prospect with their first pick.
But the selection at number 18 in general is starting to spark a debate of its own. For some time now, the consensus among Dolphins fans has been that the team should use the choice of having Alabama run back with Najee Harris to pair up backfield alongside Tagovailoa. But the positional value of such an early back may seem like something that runs counter to Miami’s team building approach with this current regime.
And if the pick is not used for Harris, what direction can we see the dolphins going?
A new contender who is quickly becoming a stubborn option in mock drafts is USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. There’s some dynamism that would make the addition of Vera-Tucker intriguing to the dolphins – starting primarily with its dolphin history behind Austin Jackson. Miami, ironically, put Jackson in the exact same position in last year’s draft – and Jackson played that previous college season with Vera-Tucker as the guard to his right as the Trojans’ left guard. So you know there’s some chemistry there. And with Jackson hitting the pro level in 2020, Vera-Tucker stepped out and played himself on last season.
That level of positional versatility is sure to catch the attention of the dolphins, who prioritized positional flexibility at numerous stops along the way during this 2-year remodel. Vera-Tucker’s experience in both tackling and guarding means the team has plenty of options to mix and match before choosing the best combination of five players up front; and if someone goes down the line can be shuffled accordingly.
The big question with Vera-Tucker: Does he fit the previously measured standards of an attacking lineman’s dolphin up front? The team has a fairly consistent “type” they look for in attacking linemen: the team likes the size and explosiveness of the lower body of their blockers in the front.
Vera-Tucker came in at 6 feet-4.5 and 308 pounds on his Pro Day.
Alijah Vera-Tucker 6044308 32 1/8 arm
– Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 24, 2021
This makes him a little lighter than what the Dolphins’ trend suggests they’ll covet – given that Ereck Flowers and Solomon Kindley average 341 pounds as the expected starting guards. Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt, the expected starting tackles, averaged 324 pounds. This isn’t to say Vera-Tucker can’t grow and add mass, but this would threaten some of what made him such a great prospect in 2020 at USC.
Will the dolphins rise to that challenge? Or is the team looking for someone who fits his or her shape better? You won’t find us a Vera-Tucker to the Dolphins in a mock draft between now and the end of the month, but the NFL Draft is unpredictable and you can never say never!