Nov 23, 2019; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Penei Sewell reacts on the bench in the closing minute of the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Dolphins have a big decision to make with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here are three players that would be poor selections.
The 2020 regular-season didn’t end in the playoff berth the Dolphins so desperately covered, but the future is still bright in South Florida. The team’s prospects are significantly improved with their possession of the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft thanks to a lopsided trade with the Houston Texans.
The Dolphins can’t afford to swing and miss with such a premium asset. They have to land a player capable of starting for them immediately and turning into a star in relatively short order. It’s time for Miami to take a meaningful step forward towards becoming a threat to the Bills in the AFC East.
Selecting the wrong player could doom the Dolphins to mediocrity for the foreseeable future. As such, Miami must avoid the following three prospects.
3. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Sewell deserves to be a top-3 pick as the consensus No. 1 left tackle in this year’s draft class. The reasons the Dolphins should pass on him is because they need to give last year’s first round selection Austin Jackson more time to develop at the position.
It’s easy to see why Miami might be tempted to select Sewell and swing Jackson over to the right side. Remember, Tua Tagovailoa’s status as a southpaw makes the right tackle just as important for the Dolphins. The presence of Robert Hunt at that spot of the line already gives Miami a young player worth developing.
Sewell may go as high as No. 2 which would remove the temptation for Miami. If he does fall to No. 3 it’s possible the Dolphins will receive an attractive trade offer for the rights to acquire him. Capitalizing on Sewell falling via trade is a terrific plan for the Dolphins. Stopping his slide by doubling down on another high draft pick at tackle is a recipe for disaster.