The Miami Dolphins have three picks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Due to that, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the team as we creep closer to the draft.
However, it also means that there is a lot of mystery. With three picks, Miami could go in so many different directions.
They have the fifth overall pick, the 18th overall pick and the 27th overall pick. That could help them rebuild the offense with weapons, get a quarterback, work on the offensive line, or fill holes in the secondary and on defense.
For now, we're focusing on the 18th pick though. Who will the Dolphins select in that spot? We tried to figure that out.
To try and zero in on who the Dolphins will take with the 18th pick, the first thing you have to do is figure out who they are taking with the fifth pick. It's pretty safe to assume at this point that they'll be taking a quarterback—Tua Tagovailoa to be exact.
That does a few things. First, it takes away the possibility of Miami selecting a quarterback at 18. Second, it points them in a pretty obvious direction. With a rookie quarterback they will want to build around him.
So that likely points in the offensive direction. Now the question is, wide receiver or offensive line?
Miami could absolutely use help in both categories. Tagovailoa will not succeed if he doesn't have them. With that in mind, those would make the most sense as the next two picks of the Dolphins. If you ask me, it all depends on who is available. I know that sounds obvious, but I'm talking about two players specifically: Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III.
The reason is pretty obvious. Both played at Alabama with Tagovailoa.
Now, this is actually kind of frustrating. Because at one point, Jeudy was seen as a potential top-three pick. In fact, some people had the Washington Redskins taking him over Chase Young with the second overall selection. He's oddly fallen closer to the middle of the first. Could he fall a little further on draft night?
Then there's Henry Ruggs III. He was more late-middle first-round for a while, but now is closer to the top 10. Will he slide back down? Or will he continue to rise?
If either of those two are available, it would make all the sense in the world for Miami to take them. And Ruggs III definitely has the higher chance of sticking around for 18.
Tagovailoa and Ruggs III have played together already. So the chemistry is already there. It can't be understated how important that is. It will make things so much easier for both, as they already have someone they are comfortable with on the roster.
Not only that, but they are two positions that interact. Tagovailoa and Ruggs III already have a few years of knowing each other, meaning the connection will be solid. Not many miscommunications between them.
It also doesn't hurt that Ruggs III has elite potential. He's an absolute burner, who ran the 40 under 4.3 seconds and has fantastic route running with good hands.
Ruggs III can enter the league and be an immediate threat. But also could grow and turn into one of the best receivers in the entire NFL in just a few short years. The sky is the limit for Ruggs III, and he's a perfect fit with Tagovailoa.
If he's available for the Dolphins at 18, they have to take him.