In a first-round mock draft published Thursday, there were two trades, including one that moved the Miami Dolphins back a few picks. The hypothetical move sent Miami sliding down the order to pick 25, where the team selected Duke’s versatile offensive lineman, Graham Barton. As part of the deal, the Dolphins also picked up third- and fourth-round selections that will be used in future editions of this gradual mock draft.
Before that, it’s time to play out round two.
Miami is slated to pick 55th in this round, and there are several directions they could go after addressing the offensive line in round one. Here’s a projection of what picks 33 through 64 could look like:
33. Carolina Panthers: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Round one: No selection
The Panthers were without a first-round pick after trading it to the Bears last year. So they need an immediate playmaker at No. 33. McConkey is a polished and intelligent wideout who could be a dual threat as a returner too.
TRADE: 34. Las Vegas Raiders (via Patriots): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Trade details:
Raiders receive No. 34 (2nd) overall
Patriots receive Nos. 44 (1st), 112 (4th), and 148 (5th) overall
Round one: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
The Raiders could have gone quarterback in round one but addressed their line instead before making a Day 2 phone call to New England. With multiple areas of need, the Patriots move back 10 spots to pick up a fourth and fifth. Las Vegas takes a gamble on Penix.
35. Arizona Cardinals: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Round one: Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State
Round one: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
The Cardinals need more help on offense, and Worthy is the all-time 40-yard dash king of the combine. Worthy can excel as a complement to Harrison Jr., as well as a return man with the new NFL kickoff rules. The Cardinals add a third player to continue their impressive start to the draft.
36. Washington Commanders: Darius Robinson Jr., EDGE, Missouri
Round one: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
After getting a quarterback to lead Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, the Commanders have a solid war chest of picks left, so they turn their attention to pass rushing help. Robinson has Round 1 talent, but slips to Washington in the early second.
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Round one: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Chargers went with wide receiver help in Round 1 and can switch to defense in Round 2. A tough and physical corner lands in LA as Mizzou players go back-to-back.
38. Tennessee Titans: Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
Round one: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Tenessee goes old-school football by building the trenches. After getting Joe Alt on offense in the first round, they land Fiske, a force on the defensive line who will immediately help the Titans. What Fiske lacks in sheer size and measurables, he makes up for with a high motor and relentlessness.
39. Carolina Panthers: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Round two: Ladd McConkey WR – Georgia
The Panthers bring in the best cornerback still on the board and another Georgia Bulldog. Perhaps McConkey and Lassiter can hitch a ride to Charlotte together. The pair stays together, and Carolina gets a dog at corner.
40. Washington Commanders: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Round one: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Round two: Darius Robinson Jr., EDGE, Missouri
The Commanders need a protector for their rookie quarterback. BYU’s athletic tackle Kingsley Suamataia would do the trick.
41. Green Bay Packers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Round one: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
The Packers are building from the inside out. Here they add protection and help for young quarterback Jordan Love. Frazier is a physical and intelligent center who could also play guard, if needed.
42. Houston Texans: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Round one: No selection
With their first selection in the 2024 NFL draft, Houston goes defense with a Gophers safety. Nubin is perhaps the best at the position in the class. Houston traded for Stefon Diggs earlier in the offseason, making this pick a well-rounded addition to the Texans, who are building themselves into a contender.
43. Atlanta Falcons: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Round one: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins is used to throwing to top-tier targets, and Oregon’s Franklin fits the bill as a potential WR1.
44. New England Patriots (via Raiders): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Round one: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Patriots went with a new QB in round one, and they desperately need help at receiver to help Maye develop. Coleman is a big target at 6’4 and a nice pairing with a rookie signal-caller. This is quality value for New England after a trade back.
45. New Orleans Saints: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Round one: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Saints get a crafty receiver to pair with Chris Olave. A burner who put up a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine, Pearsall can be outstanding in the slot for the Saints at the Superdome. He could also be a factor in the return game.
46. Indianapolis Colts: Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Round one: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Colts would have loved to see Brock Bowers fall to them, but he got scooped up by the Jets. Instead they get TE2 in Sanders, who should be an immediate impact target for second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.
47. New York Giants: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Round one: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
A national champion at Michigan, Sainristil is an incredible athlete with top-tier ball-hawking skills. He could excel as a slot corner.
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Round one: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Jaguars got help in the first round on the offensive line with Fautanu. Now they add an edge presence to get to the quarterback.
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Round one: Brian Thomas, Jr., WR, LSU
The Bengals added help for Joe Burrow with Thomas at wideout. Now, they get their quarterback more protection. Paul is a great pass protector with excellent size and could hopeful provide help on the run-blocking side of things too.
50. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Round one: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Eagles love to have offensive line toughness, and with the retirement of Jason Kelce, Philly could use more of it. As strong as they come and a fantastic interior pass protector, he could be perfect for the “Brotherly Shove” and help Jalen Hurts buy time to throw.
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Round one: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
After trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina, the Steelers stick with their M.O. of finding a replacement wide receiver in the draft. Wilson is a speedy receiver with great hands who can stretch the field.
52. Los Angeles Rams: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Round one: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Tampa is a physical pass-breakup machine. The Rams add secondary help and pass rushing help after two straight years of losing stars, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald.
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
Round one: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Round two: Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Howie Roseman loves Georgia Bulldogs defenders and nabs one of the draft’s top safety prospects in Bullard.
54. Cleveland Browns: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Round one: No selection
Cleveland was without a first-round pick, but start their selection process off with a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC linebacker.
55. Miami Dolphins: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
Round one: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins to free agency, yet a mini-version falls to them at No. 55. Very similar in size and skill-set, Jenkins won a national championship with Michigan heading into the draft, five years after Wilkins won one with Clemson in 2019. Miami general manager Chris Grier loves drafting collegiate champions and has done so four straight years from 2019 to 2022 (Wilkins, Blake Ferguson, Jaylen Waddle, and Channing Tindall).
56. Dallas Cowboys: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Round one: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Dallas loves to sit and wait for wide receivers to fall to them. Here they get another weapon for Dak Prescott.
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
Round one: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Bucs double-dip on defense to start by adding high-motor and fast linebacker Payton Wilson. Impressive at the combine, Wilson could be the heart of any defense in the pros. With great size and athleticism, Wilson could be a steal here.
58. Green Bay Packers: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Round one: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
Round two: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
The Packers add secondary help in Melton with so many NFC North targets to defend. The Rutgers product could play on the boundary or slot with solid size and ball skills. His brother is currently a wide receiver for the Packers.
59. Houston Texans: T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Round two: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Sliding down the board not because of talent but some recent off-field trouble, Houston takes a chance on a stud in a steal.
60. Buffalo Bills: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Round one: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Bills replaced Stefon Diggs with Mitchell in the first round. They stick with Longhorns here and get a running mate for James Cook. The duo should take the load off of Josh Allen in the red zone and Brooks offers a lot with both his rushing and receiving abilities.
61. Detroit Lions: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Round one: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Lions added help on defense in round one and are looking for another player to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in the wide receiver room. Malachi Corley is physical with plenty of yards after the catch ability and can break tackles. He is a potentially explosive third option in Detroit.
62. Baltimore Ravens: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
Round one: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Ravens are excellent at drafting and even developmental prospects have a strong chance at panning out in Baltimore. Kneeland is a freak athlete with versatility and solid bull-rushing strength to get pressure on the quarterback.
63. San Francisco 49ers: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Round one: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
The Niners can use another weapon, as Brandon Aiyuk’s future with the team is uncertain. Polk could be a top 50 talent, and his ability was too much for the Niners to pass up at the tail-end of the second.
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Round one: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Chiefs are loaded on offense and still building on defense. They add to their pass-rush with Washington’s Trice. With leadership and a good motor, Trice could rack up sack numbers with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis already on the line.