32nd Miami Herald mock draft: QB blitz with 4 gone fast — and a Gator to Dolphins at 51 | Opinion

This is the 88th NFL Draft, the 58th for the Miami Dolphins and my 32nd annual official Miami Herald mock draft. This also is the 50th draft since Miami last won a Super Bowl so ... happy golden anniversary?

Miami does not have a first-round pick for the second straight year. Last year it was traded away to get Tyreek Hill. This time it’s because Dolphins owner Stephen Ross A) worked back-channels to try to woo quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton, both under contract elsewhere at the time, and B) cheated so badly he got caught and got his team stripped of its top pick for violating NFL tampering and integrity rules.

The Fins’ first of only four picks barring a trade will be 51st overall in the second round, and I’ll have that pick below as well. Last year Miami did not select until 102nd overall. Fins picked Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall and -- astonishingly, miraculously -- I got it right. No, seriously. (You could look it up.)

The past six years my mock drafts have had 35 bull’s-eyes (exact player to exact team), including six last year, the same number as ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. I compare my results with Junior for laughs. Because Mel makes this a year-round endeavor involving extensive film study. For me it’s a swoop-in guess-bomb — it’s a mockery! My idea of film study is binge-watching “Ted Lasso.”

In fact those of you at home making a drinking game of my correct picks may get parched. Suggest you make ‘em doubles.

I do one mock draft only, do not try to predict draft-night trades and leave the tortured overanalysis to others. I simply cross-reference each team’s needs with best available players and let the darts fly.

OK, ready? Let’s mock!

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama — Cats did not trade up to No. 1 to draft a guard. They traded up because ... Sam Darnold. Only knock on Young is he’s 5-10. C.J. Stroud at 6-3 looks the part, fits the mold. But Young has the higher ceiling, although, granted, ceilings always seem higher when you’re only 5-10.

2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State — Will Anderson Jr., the draft’s top defender, will tempt here, but (sorry, Davis Mills), Texans need a franchise passer to better put the lingering stink of Deshaun Watson fully in the rear-view.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama — Trade-down territory for a QB-hungry team aching to trade up. Otherwise Birds can’t go wrong with draft’s top-rated defender to fill void left by J.J. Watt’s retirement.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky — Levis is a draft “it guy” whose buzz will have him selected above his position rating. But would be Stroud if he falls, and Indy also looked hard at Anthony Richardson.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech — Seahawks have an edge-rush need and love Wilson, unless Anderson should fall. Could also opt for inside bulk on D with Jalen Carter.

6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois — Detroit has been in the news with four players suspended by NFL for gambling. Here’s a good bet: Witherspoon, the draft’s top-rated cover guy, comes in to replace recently traded Jeff Okudah.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: The draft will be live in Kansas City, Missouri, from just outside Union Station, the iconic, historic railroad terminal that next month will premiere a massive Spider-Man exhibit. In a planned cross-promotion, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is to acrobatically swoop down from the rafters in full Spider-Man regalia to announce the first-round picks.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern — Raiders like a surprise or splash pick but get traditional here with draft’s top tackle to fill a top need. Christian Gonzalez also would tempt here.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida — Don’t think Birds see Desmond Ridder as their future. If I’m wrong, the pick here could target corner Christian Gonzalez or an edge guy such as Nolan Smith.

9. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia — Chitown will be lucky if Carter falls this far to them as the draft’s top-rated run-stuffer, filling a specific team need.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas — The got Rashaad Penny cheap after losing star Miles Sanders in free agency, but go for the home run here. Running backs seldom go this high but many see Robinson as a generational talent.

11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State — Talk of a trade up and could grab Richardson if he falls. Otherwise Titans fill a need here and make Ryan Tannehill happy, too.

12. Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njiba, WR, Ohio State — Had Texans going QB with their first pick (No. 2). Now they stick with offense and get that guy a new toy to play with.

13. Green Bay Packers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah — Pack bumped up two spots via the Aaron Rodgers trade to Jets. Jordan Love needs help, and Gee Bees hope Kincaid is the next Travis Kelce.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: Rival Miami sports radio stations 560-WQAM and 940-WINZ both are expected to devote hours and hours to NFL Draft coverage Thursday and throughout the weekend, apparently unaware that anyone that interested in the draft will be watching on TV or following it online.

14. New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon — Pats will be tempted by a WR (Zay Flowers?) to help salvage Mac Jones, but Gonzalez, pegged to likely go much higher, is too much value here to pass by.

15. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia — You might have heard: Jets just traded for a 39-year-old quarterback. Here’s a move to help keep Mr. Rodgers upright and healthy.

16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State — Team is filling its biggest need — new owner — and can now take aim at its top on-field need. Dad was a top NFL LB (Fins 2007-09), and Junior has the size and bloodline.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee — Could target a WR here (Flowers, Jordan Addison), but tackle is literally a bigger need, and the 6-5 1/2, 333-pound Wright fills it immensely.

18. Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh — Lions went defense with first pick (No. 6) and stay there by beefing up the line. Could also see Lukas Van Ness or TE Michael Mayer as nice fits here.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brian Branch, S, Alabama — Unless one of the four already-gone OTs falls here, Bucs opt for draft’s top-rated safety. A guard such as Steve Avila could also tempt Tampa Bay.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame — Seattle nabbed a DE with its first pick (No. 5) so switches it up with needed offensive help here. But Emmanuel Forbes also a possibility.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: Miami should be on the clock here with the 21st pick, but forfeited it due to a tampering violation. If I were producing the NFL’s draft telecast, there would be a moment of silence during which the screen would show a still photo of a skullduggerous Stephen Ross surreptitiously welcoming Tom Brady aboard his yacht.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa — A WR will tempt here, but Justin Herbert requires another weapon less than the Bolts’ defense, which, even with Joey Bosa back healthy, needs help.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State — Unable to draft the wherewithal to re-sign Lamar Jackson, the Crows fill their biggest other need instead. They also like Deonte Banks at same position.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland — Vikes could be thinking of Kirk Cousins’ eventual replacement (Hendon Hooker?), but that’s a luxury pick. This fills a more pressing need.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson — Jags after a 9-8 season are good enough to target specific needs, and Jax was near the bottom five in sacks last year.

25. New York Giants: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College — If you’re going to roll dice and invest big on a QB such as Daniel Jones, you better take away all his excuses and reasons to fail.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Steve Avila, OG, TCU — This pick fills team’s biggest hole. Hunch, though: If RB Bijan Robinson falls this far, Cowboys make the cannonball pick and take him.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: The first NFL Draft was held in 1936. Also notable in the sports world that year: Plans are set to build the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York; Max Schmeling knocks out Joe Louis in boxing’s biggest upset; and Tom Brady is born on a goat farm in San Mateo, California.

27. Buffalo Bills: Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia — Not a major need, but Bills are good enough to have the luxury to draft talent first, and Smith is highest-rated player still on the board.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Will McDonald IV, OLB, Iowa State — Joe Burrow doesn’t need a whole lot of help, but a Cincy defense that ranked 29th in sacks does.

29. New Orleans Saints: Adetomiwas Adebawore, DT, Northwestern — Of Nigerian heritage, he’s a bit short for the edge and a bit light for the middle. But his athleticism and overall grade both ranked first among all DTs at the Combine.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State — Super Bowl runne-rup scored a RB with first pick (No. 10) so Philly looks to D here. Had 89 pressures past two seasons, and 21 turned to sacks.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Addison, WR, Southern Cal — They did OK, anyway. Won the Super Bowl. But the Chiefs never did really replace Tyreek Hill. Here’s a shot at it.

51. MIAMI DOLPHINS: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida — What is Miami’s greatest need/priority/imperative? Keeping Tua Tagovailoa upright and healthy. Enter this guy. He is the best pure guard in the 2023 Draft He could be an immediate right-side starter. He is 6-5 1/2 and 340 pounds. He started three seasons at Louisiana, transferred to Florida and was up to the upgrade in competition, grading an 88 vs. the SEC in Gainesville. Pro Football Focus grades Torrence the No 1 interior-OL guy in the draft. The Fins could use a tight end to replace Mike Gesicki. They need blocking help more.