Name: Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Dolphins Dictate 2020 NFL Draft Ripple Effects
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Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Dolphins Dictate 2020 NFL Draft Ripple Effects

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XThe Miami Dolphins control the 2020 draft with a league-leading 14 selections.What will they do with those picks, and how will that change the plans of other teams?With three first-rounders (Nos. 5, 18 and 26 overall) and two second-rounders (Nos. 39 and 56 overall), the Dolphins have the draft capital to make shocking moves up the board or walk away with five or more starter-level players.&nbsp;This week, I talked to multiple league sources and posed the same question to each of them: "What are the Dolphins doing?" There have been strong signals coming out of the team's scouting department that they prefer quarterback Justin Herbert to Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, which would frustrate Dolphins fans to no end after they spent two years waiting for the Crimson Tide signal-caller.Tua or Herbert—which will it be?One high-level scout told me he continues to hear it will be Tagovailoa, and that the team's recent love affair with Herbert through the media is all a ploy to drive down the market for the quarterback it actually wants. If you convince the football world you don't want Tagovailoa, it's less likely someone will jump ahead of you in the order to land him. That's what this source believes the Dolphins are attempting to do.However, that's only one opinion. While it's an educated one, it's hard to listen to one voice when so many others are shouting that Herbert will be the guy. At this point in the predraft processand I'm writing this exactly two weeks before the first pick is announcedit's a safe estimate that 90 percent of the intel surrounding Miami points to Herbert.Why Herbert over the more proven Tagovailoa? That doesn't make sense based on my latest draft board, which you can see below, but there is a growing sentiment that it's wise to draft the quarterback who hasn't had three major injuries in the last two years even if he isn't as talented.One source I spoke with this week believes multiple teams have failed Tagovailoa medically—his team has—because of concerns about how long he'll stay healthy. He can pass the physicals now and be cleared to play, but what will his hip look like in three or five or 10 years? That's the question most people around the NFL are asking this week.So, if Herbert is the guy at No. 5 overall and the Dolphins don't have to trade up for a quarterback, what will they do with their other 13 picks?Improving at offensive tackle is as important as finding the right quarterback. They need to address both left and right tackle, which could be done at Nos. 18 and 26 with Austin Jackson (USC) or Josh Jones (Houston) on the left side and Isaiah Wilson (Georgia) at right.In one round, the Dolphins would have addressed their offensive woes.&nbsp;Where would that leave the rest of the league?B/R Gridiron .@Quincy_Avery works with all three QBs 👀https://t.co/H8FGNJ1v06 https://t.co/AS3RN7PDhxThe ripple effect would hit the other quarterback-needy teams, too. The Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, both of whom have been linked to quarterbacks but aren't a sure thing to draft one, would be out on the top three in this scenario and would have to debate the merits of Utah State's Jordan Love as a developmental player with awesome arm talent and plus mobility.&nbsp;With 14 selections, the Dolphins will have a major influence on this draft. They have the ammunition to trade up from No. 5 if so desired and could even make a run at the No. 1 pick if they wanted to cobble together an offer the Cincinnati Bengals can't refuse. The smart move, though, would be addressing the many needs on the roster with a bounty of picks rarely seen in the modern NFL.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;—Why is still unsigned? In talking to sources around the league this week, the belief is that he won't sign until after the NFL draft concludes on April 25. The reason? He wants a chance to start in 2020 and won't want to sign with a team that drafts a first-rounder at quarterback. Newton's camp will hope a quarterback-needy team doesn't land an early-round QB of the future. Where might that be? It's a stretch, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are a possibility, as they could afford to bring in Newton thanks to Gardner Minshew II's cheap contract.—Why is Jameis Winston still unsigned? It's the opposite of Newton's dilemma. Winston isn't seen around the NFL as a starter, but he might be holding out hope for a situation where he can back up a starter who doesn't have a strong hold on the job, much like Ryan Tannehill did on the Titans last year. However, there aren't many of those jobs available with free agency largely wrapped up. Winston could instead back up an established quarterback in a good system as he attempts to rehabilitate the NFL's image of him in a positive learning environment. Green Bay and Seattle both make sense for him from that standpoint, but neither team has been willing to pay well for a QB2.—After sending DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers&nbsp;are looking at trade-back opportunities from No. 31 overall. With only seven selections in the draftincluding none in Rounds 2, 3 or 4the 49ers need more draft capital in the middle rounds, which is an area where general manager John Lynch and Co. have been great at finding starters.&nbsp;If Love is still on the board at No. 31, the 49ers are in prime shape to trade back to the top of the second round and let a team come up for a quarterback.—Could Green Bay Packers draft a quarterback in Round 1? Yes, but it isn't seen as a major need headed into the draft. Instead, this would be a perfect-world scenario, like when fell into their laps in 2005. Rodgers wasn't a dire need, but the team was starting to think about life after or at least developing a quality backup behind him. It stands to reason that the Packers will take a few swings of the bat to find their successor to Rodgers, just like when they added Brian Brohm and back in 2008.—What will the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs do at No. 32 overall? Many league sources believe general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid will draft a weapon for quarterback Patrick Mahomes instead of prioritizing needs on defense such as cornerback and linebacker. If that's the case, don't be surprised to see Kansas City trade back out of the first round. With only five selections in the draft and more needs than picks, the Chiefs would be wise to move down if they have their sights set on a running back like LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire to help Mahomes.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1. EDGE Chase Young, Ohio State2. QB Joe Burrow, LSU3. CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State4. LB/S Isaiah Simmons, Clemson5. WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama6. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama7. OT Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama8. DL Derrick Brown, Auburn9. EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU10. DL Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina11. OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa12. WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama13. WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma14. CB C.J. Henderson, Florida15. RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia16. LB Patrick Queen, LSU17. OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia18. OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville19. LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma20. WR Justin Jefferson, LSU21. EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State22. S Xavier McKinney, Alabama23. EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa24. CB Jeff Gladney, TCU25. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU26. OC Cesar Ruiz, Michigan27. QB Justin Herbert, Oregon28. WR Tee Higgins, Clemson29. S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota30. RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin31. QB Jordan Love, Utah State32. LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;5. B/R GOAT SimThe #BRGOATSim final four got underway Thursday night, with the New England Patriots knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Patriots legends Tom Brady and linked up one more time for the game-winning score.B/R Gridiron .@TomBrady 🏈 @RobGronkowski. CLUTCH.#BRGOATSim @br_betting￼📺: https://t.co/ebgyMGGRhP https://t.co/noXQ4KPmKAThey will play the winner of Friday's NFC Championship Game between the all-time New York Giants and all-time Green Bay Packers on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4. Sleeper of the Week: EDGE Bryce Huff, MemphisWhen you're looking for a late-round pick who has a chance to make an impact, you often look for tools that can be developed through better coaching or better strength and conditioning. That's what you find in Bryce Huff, who is NFL-ready from a strength standpoint but needs to be coached up on technique and tools.The 6'3", 245-pound Huff has one of the cleanest first steps in the edge-rusher class. His ability to stun blockers with speed is eye-opening, which is why he's this week's sleeper. If Huff gets into a system where he can pin his ears back and get into the backfield, and one that will develop his countermoves, he could become a star.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3. Riser of the Week: EDGE Darrell Taylor, TennesseeIf you want first-step quickness at the edge-rusher position and can't get a first-rounder like Chase Young, Darrell Taylor is a worthy developmental player in Round 3. When evaluating pass-rushers, it's easy to get caught up looking at stats or body type, but more often than not, the best determining factor of success is quickness and speed off the edge. Taylor has plenty of that. He was inconsistent during his Tennessee career and needs to be coached up, but his raw traits are as exciting as any rusher in this class not named Chase Young.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;2. Faller of the Week: TE Brycen Hopkins, PurdueHopkins is one of my favorite tight end prospects to watch in the 2020 class thanks to his athleticism and size (6'4", 245 lbs), but he moves down this week as we finalize NFL Draft 400 grades due to drops. It's impossible to overlook the amount of targets he put on the turf, no matter how much his athletic profile stands out.If he can clean up his drops, Hopkins could easily be a steal and a starter in the NFL. But when projecting his draft value for 32 teams, an issue as large as not consistently catching the ball can't be ignored or explained away.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;1.&nbsp;Stick to Footballis back in the studio this week with each host giving you his updated 2020 one-round mock draft—plus interviews with former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love and Appalachian State running back Darryton Evans!Check out all our podcast episodes, which are also available onas a video series, andif you haven't already. We will also post a ton of behind-the-scenes content on ourpage.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.🚨 SPORTS NEWS ➡️ YOUR INBOXThe latest in the sports world, emailed daily.Maybe later

XThe Miami Dolphins control the 2020 draft with a league-leading 14 selections.What will they do with those picks, and how will that change the plans of other teams?With three first-rounders (Nos. 5, 18 and 26 overall) and two second-rounders (Nos. 39 and 56 overall), the Dolphins have the draft capital to make shocking moves up the board or walk away with five or more starter-level players.&nbsp;This week, I talked to multiple league sources and posed the same question to each of them: "What are the Dolphins doing?" There have been strong signals coming out of the team's scouting...

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Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Dolphins Dictate 2020 NFL Draft Ripple Effects

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