The Miami Dolphins are positioned to have one of the biggest influxes of talent in the NFL. Not only has the team been rumored to be pursuing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson via a trade, but the fins hold an extensive number of draft picks in 2021 which are positioned in the top part of every round.
With a total of 10 potential selections, two of those picks come within the first round, and if nothing else the Dolphins are aiming to make some offensive upgrades.
If Miami stands pat and doesn’t trade the third overall pick, many experts have projected the team to select a wide receiver with many predicting DeVonta Smith to be the guy.
That would be a welcome reunion with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who is in need of elite targets following his up and down rookie season. But that still leaves one first-round selection for Miami who also holds the 18th pick in the opening round.
There are a few areas of need for Miami, but Tagovailoa has hopes of possibly reuniting with another one of his teammates in Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris.
“He’s going to be a fun guy to watch this upcoming season,” Tagovailoa said during an appearance on the Yahoo Sports podcast, via the New York Post. “Hopefully we’re on the same team.”
The 18th pick is right where Harris has been projected to become a realistic pick and Miami could use the run support.
The 2020 Dolphins backfield was produced by committee as none of the three running backs in Myles Gaskin, Matt Brieda and Salvon Ahmed individually rushed for more than 600 yards on the season. The team was ranked 22nd overall in rushing and only complicated the team’s offensive flow against better competition.
Harris would not only help in the rushing regard, as he ran for over 1,400 yards and 26 touchdowns but he would be a back who would be able to stay on the field for all three downs. One of the most underrated aspects of the California native’s game has been his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield which he showed off multiple times with Alabama.
In his two seasons as the primary option, Harris caught 70 passes for 729 yards and 11 touchdowns.
An added plus to picking up Harris is his relationship with Tagovailoa as the two were very close during their years with the Crimson Tide. Both moved to Tuscaloosa in the same recruiting cycle and were roommates during their careers.
So even if Tagovailoa isn’t able to find the open man downfield, he has a viable option he trusts in Harris as a check-down who can take a two-yard catch and turning it into 15, while also getting 20-25 carries a game and being a menace between the tackles.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
