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NFL Mock Draft 2024: Joe Schad of Palm Beach Post, Mock 2.0

Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read

The Dolphins say they're looking for the best available player - any position except quarterback - in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25.

But we all know that ideally it would really be best available tackle, guard, edge rusher or defensive tackle.

Miami general manager Chris Grier has run a bunch of mock drafts - just like you! - and he's convinced there will be one or two appealing players on the board with pick 21.

"You’re always going to take the best player available for the first couple rounds, because that’s where you probably have the most control of how your board looks in terms of how you spent all the offseason ranking in terms of all your time with the coaching staff and scouts to build it,” Grier said.

But gosh a player who could play guard in 2024 and left tackle as early as 2025 would be best-case scenario.

Or perhaps an edge rusher to help ease any burden on Jaelan Phillips and/or Bradley Chubb to rush back from very serious injuries.

2024 NFL Draft: Who will Miami Dolphins select?

There are a handful of players The Palm Beach Post's mocker really hoped to be able to mock in this space. And we don't know how realistic this is, but our favorite player - Washington G/T Troy Fautanu - made it to 21 in the version you'll see here.

The fix was in!

That would be cause for grand celebration in Miami Gardens.

We really like offensive linemen Fautanu, JC Latham, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga and Graham Barton.

We really like edge rushers Laiatu Latu and Jared Verse and defensive tackle Byron Murphy.

Miami would love to see at least one of these players on the board at 21.

"We feel that we can get an impact player there that will help our team and roster, and we’d be very excited to add," Grier said.

Here's out best shot at predicting the 2024 NFL Draft:

NFL Mock Draft 2024, Joe Schad 2.0

1. CHICAGO - Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. WASHINGTON - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3. NEW ENGLAND - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. ARIZONA - Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio St.

5. LA CHARGERS - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

6. NY GIANTS - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the pregame before the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Ncaa Fiesta Bowl Game
December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the pregame before the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Ncaa Fiesta Bowl Game

7. TENNESSEE - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

8. ATLANTA - Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

9. CHICAGO - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

10. NY JETS - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

11. MINNESOTA - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

12. DENVER - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

13. LAS VEGAS - JC Latham, OT, Alabama

14. NEW ORLEANS - Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Laiatu Latu (15) battles against San Diego State Aztecs tight end Mark Redman (81) during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Laiatu Latu (15) battles against San Diego State Aztecs tight end Mark Redman (81) during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

15. INDIANAPOLIS - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

16. SEATTLE - Byron Murphy, DT, Texas

17. JACKSONVILLE - Brian Thomas, Jr., WR, LSU

18. CINCINNATI - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

19. LA RAMS - Jared Verse, Edge, FSU

Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) tackles Oklahoma Sooners running back Jovantae Barnes (2) during the second half in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) tackles Oklahoma Sooners running back Jovantae Barnes (2) during the second half in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

20. PITTSBURGH - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

21. MIAMI - Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

22. PHILADELPHIA - Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

23. MINNESOTA - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

24. DALLAS - Graham Barton ,OL, Duke

25. GREEN BAY - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

26. TAMPA BAY - Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon

Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) signals against the Washington State Cougars in the 4th quarter at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, on Oct. 21, 2023.
Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) signals against the Washington State Cougars in the 4th quarter at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, on Oct. 21, 2023.

27. ARIZONA - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

28. BUFFALO - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29. DETROIT - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

30. BALTIMORE - Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

31. SAN FRANCISCO - Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma

32. KANSAS CITY - Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier expects to make his first first-round selection in three years on April 25.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier expects to make his first first-round selection in three years on April 25.

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mock Draft 2.0 for Miami Dolphins in NFL Draft 2024 from Joe Schad