Could Miami Make a Surprising Pick at No. 6?

The Miami Dolphins are one of the most interesting teams going into this weekend’s NFL draft. Their picks at Nos. 6 and 18 could go a long way in making their full transition to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa easier and could mean drafting a wide receiver, offensive lineman, or even defensive player. That said, the most likely selection has been wide receiver unless Kyle Pitts falls to six.

The candidate that has been floating around more than any other has been Jamarr Chase, including a report from Todd McShay in the Ringer’s Ryen Russillo Podcast. However, this is draft season, and the only thing that is certain is uncertainty. Over the past 24 hours, new reports have floated about a different wide receiver who also happens to be a former teammate of Tagovailoa. No, it’s not Devonta Smith, either.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Dolphins f have Jaylen Waddle as WR1 on their draft board. Of course, the two have a connection because of their shared time with the Crimson Tide, but that’s not all. Waddle has a very unique skillset that would thrive in Miami. He is one of the most explosive athletes in this draft, and he can be effective both from the slot and on the outside. In this scenario, though, Will Fuller and DeVante Parker will line up outside giving Waddle the slot. This is where he was most effective throughout his collegiate career, and he should get plenty of open looks from this spot.

Despite this new report, it would still be quite surprising to see Waddle go that early. He suffered a broken ankle during the 2020 season, and when he returned for the national title game, he still looked less than 100%. Even if he was 100%, this is now an injury history that would make a top-10 pick very risky to use on Waddle. There is undoubted talent, though, and if he proves to avoid the injury bug in the NFL, he could be well worth the risk.