The Dolphins will have the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft
The Senior Bowl is this week, which means it’s the heart of draft season. The annual Senior Bowl is an excellent opportunity for teams to get an up-close look at some of the class’s best prospects.
The Miami Dolphins didn’t select any Senior Bowl players last season. However, in the 2022 NFL draft, they selected Channing Tindall, who attended the event two years ago. Tindall hasn’t worked out yet, but the event recently has produced some impressive contributors across the league.
Additionally, the Dolphins have their first-round pick (No. 21) for the first time since 2021. Let’s look at a few players the Dolphins and their fans should pay attention to in Mobile, Alabama, this week.
Top Senior Bowl Players for Dolphins
Christian Hayes, G, UConn
If the Dolphins are interested in adding a true guard, UConn’s Christian Hayes could fit nicely next to Armstead next season.
Hayes is an athletic mover with a lot of potential. He’s clearly quick enough to mirror and match rushers in pass protection, but he’s not an imposing force in the run game.
If he proves he can handle power rushers in Mobile, he could shoot up boards. Right now, he’s mostly viewed as a Day 3 prospect, meaning a small rise wouldn’t force the Dolphins to spend a premium pick on him.
Hayes has spent most of his time playing right guard, so the Dolphins would have to teach him how to play on the left side. However, Hayes is a player who could help the Dolphins more in the future than right away.
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Arizona’s Jordan Morgan is another tackle-guard hybrid who would fit the Dolphins. He’s a bit more of a fleet-footed pass protector but lacks Fautanu’s edge in the running game.
Morgan’s strengths rely more on pass protection. He does an excellent job using his foot speed and length to keep speed rushers at bay. Morgan made his first start as a true freshman during the 2019 season.
After that, he was a mainstay on the Wildcats’ line. However, he has dealt with some injuries, including a torn ACL at the end of the 2022 season. Morgan looked healthy playing on that knee this season, using the same quickness and athletic ability that made him a top prospect in the first place.
Morgan’s play style is more in line with the type of prospect Austin Jackson was coming out of USC. Morgan fits the bill if the Dolphins want another smooth zone blocker who could develop into a quality starter.
Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Sticking with the offensive line, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier is a true center, a position the Dolphins might need if Connor Williams departs in free agency.
Williams significantly impacted the effectiveness of Miami’s offense, so replacing him should be a priority if he leaves. Frazier was under the radar this summer, but there’s a chance he’s the top center in this year’s class.
He’s an experienced starter who thrives on zone concepts. He understands how to manipulate angles and leverage to create movement. He’s not the most powerful player, so he has to rely on the scheme to put him in good spots.
He’s not a rock-star athlete, but he can get to the second level and seal off rushing lanes.
Frazier suffered a broken leg Nov. 25, so we’re not sure how much he’ll compete this week. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reported Frazier is running and looking good in his recovery so far, meaning the injury might not affect his draft stock much.
Assuming his medicals check out, Frazier is a perfect fit for what the Dolphins’ offense tries to do in the running game. Additionally, his starting experience at West Virginia should aid him if he needs to play immediately.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson is another name to watch at center.
The Oregon product is enjoying a late rise in most analysts’ rankings. However, Frazier is a slightly better fit for what the Dolphins like in the running game.
Still, Powers-Johnson offers a little more athletic ability in space. At Oregon, he consistently showed he could get up to the second level and block smaller defenders downfield