The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and it's safe to say the Dolphins surprised a lot of people with the direction that the team went. Today we break down each of the four picks, what their potential roles could be, and what impact we should expect from each player in year one.
2.51 Cam Smith CB South Carolina
- Year: Redshirt Junior
- Height 6'1"
- Weight: 180 pounds
- Length: 31 5/8″
- Wingspan: 75 1/2″
- Hand: 9 1/8″
- 40 time: 4.43
Testing Via ras.football
Analysis:
If you would have told me back in January or February that Cam Smith was going to be the Dolphins first pick I would have been ecstatic. Cam Smith is a great fit for the Vic Fangio defense as a corner who excels in zone coverage thanks to his excellent anticipation and route recognition. Where Smith struggles is in press/man-to-man coverage where he is asked to turn and run with receivers as he isn't as fluid, hence no agility testing, as some would like for a corner which can and has lead to Smith grabbing receivers which led to 10 penalties last year. My biggest question is where does Cam Smith play next year? Off the bat you have to assume he is competing for playing time as the nickle/3rd corner with Kader Kohou but like many others I was hoping for a more instant impact/clear path to playing time player with the 51st pick. I think there are going to be times where Miami is in dime and Miami gets all four of their top corners on the field or situations where Jalen Ramsey is playing Star/Nickle that will allow Smith to get on the field but I was shocked when Miami made this pick. Smith does give Miami flexibility in the future to move on from Xavien Howard if his play isn't up to par in 2023.
8.84 Devon Achane RB Texas A&M
- Year: Junior
- Height 5’8 1/2″
- Weight 188 pounds
- Arm Length: 29″
- Hand Size: 8 1/2″
- 40 time: 4.32
Testing Via ras.football
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Analysis:
This is one pick that I was not shocked at in the slightest despite some serious concerns that I have about Achane and his ability to hold up at the next level. Achane is pure speed and when you turn on his tape, it's not hard to see why Mike McDaniel was so excited to draft him. Despite being so undersized by NFL standards, Achane was consistently asked to run between the tackles at Texas A&M and was a solid receiver out of the back field. Achane can take it to the house no matter where he is on the field and in an offense that already features Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, good luck keeping up with all of them. I can only imagine the amount of ideas that Mike McDaniel has up his sleeve for Achane but I am worried that he may never be more than a gadget guy at 5'8 188lbs. Expect Achane to be a change of pace/gadget guy in year one who rotates the return man role with Braxton Berrios.
6.197 Elijah Higgins TE Stanford
- Year: Senior
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 235 pounds
- Arm Size: 31 3/4″
- Hand Size: 10 1/2″
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.54
Testing Via ras.football
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Analysis:
Hey, we all wanted a tight end right?
Way back in 2013, the Washington Commanders, with then wide receiver coach Mike McDaniel, drafted a hybrid WR/TE out of Florida named Jordan Reed who went on to have a solid career with the Commanders before retiring due to concussions. Jordan Reed should be the hope for Elijah Higgins. The Dolphins are moving the big Stanford receiver from WR to TE with the hopes of developing him into an H-Back that Mike McDaniel can employ as a parameter blocker (please get the screen game going again) and seam threat. We shouldn't expect a big year one impact as Higgins continues to develop and probably add a few more pounds, but considering the current tight end situation on the roster, Higgins, if he can hold off Tanner Conner, could see some time sparingly.
Ryan Hayes OL Michigan
- Year: R-Senior
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 298 pounds
- Arm Length: 32 1/2″
- Hand Size: 10″
- 40-Yard Dash: 5.18 seconds
Testing Via ras.football
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Analysis:
Ryan Hayes is a shot at a potential swing tackle/guard that could potentially push Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones. Yes, we still live in a world where these two are potential starters. He is a really solid athlete at the position but he is undersized at 298 pounds and has shorter arms than most teams like at tackle, which is why he is probably moving inside to guard. Hayes should get a chance to compete on the line because we all know Miami needs it at RT and LG.
Recap:
My biggest fear with this Dolphin's draft class, like many others, is that there aren't going to be an impact starters on day 1 despite the fact that this team has shown that they are in a win-now mode and still have major needs at positions like tight end, right tackle, and left guard. Cam Smith is the only player that I see taking on a true starting role but that is dependent on how they want to use Jalen Ramsey. Miami CANNOT go into this season with Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson, and Durham Smythe as starting players, they just can't. Both linemen were atrocious last season after being atrocious the year before and consider me a skeptic but I highly double that the 7th round pick on the OL is going to come in a beat either one of those two out. Time will tell how this draft turns out but for now, I will be watching the free agency wire to see where Miami can get some instant impact players.