Prospects for Dolphins to Avoid in 2023 NFL Draft
The Miami Dolphins have every right to be picky in the 2023 NFL draft.
Miami only has four selections, with the first of them being the 51st overall pick in the second round. The Dolphins also pick in the third, sixth and seventh rounds.
The Dolphins have to find the right players in the second and third rounds so they make an impact in positions of need, or provide some depth during the 2023 season.
Miami should target certain parts of its offense with its first two selections, and it has to sift through which prospects fit best for its system.
Miami could use an extra pass-catching running back to spell Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.; it needs a tight end to replace the departed Mike Gesicki; and a fourth wide receiver may be needed to provide help behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Braxton Berrios.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
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Miami is in the perfect spot in the second or third round to add to its running back depth.
A majority of the top running backs, with the exception of Bijan Robinson, should be available by the time the Dolphins pick at No. 51. Robinson is widely considered a first-round pick.
Miami can break down which of the running backs to take by their collegiate production in the passing game.
The Dolphins could use an extra pass-catcher out of the backfield so that Mostert and Wilson can focus most on rushing the ball on the early downs. A running back selection could also provide Myles Gaskin with a way out of Miami to pursue more playing time.
Auburn's Tank Bigsby does not fit the mold of what Miami should look for because of how little he did with the ball when he caught it.
Bigsby had 62 receptions over three seasons, but he did not have more than 200 receiving yards in a single season and did not score a touchdown off a pass. He had back-to-back 10-score seasons on the ground, but that quality is redundant on Miami's current roster.
Texas A&M's Devon Achane had more receiving yards than Bigsby in each of the last two seasons and scored five times on passes in his college career. Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs had 44 receptions for 444 receiving yards last season. Gibbs also had 59 catches for 768 yards in two years at Georgia Tech.
UAB's Dewayne McBride and UCLA's Zach Charbonnet have similar low totals as Bigsby in the passing game. McBride had over 3,000 rushing yards in the last two seasons, but only had 29 receiving yards. Charbonnet got better in the passing game in his final season with career highs in receptions and receiving yards, but he did not have a receiving touchdown at UCLA or Michigan.
Pro Football Focus lists Gibbs, Charbonnet, Achane, McBride and Bigsby as its five best running backs behind Robinson in the draft class. McBride and Bigsby are back-to-back at Nos. 85 and 86.
Bigsby is a strong ball carrier, and even though he had 30 catches in 2022, he has to be avoided because of the lack of production with those catches.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
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Luke Musgrave does not have impressive collegiate numbers to go along with his size.
The 6'6" tight end could be a massive target across the middle for the Dolphins, but there are a few reasons why he should not be the Gesicki replacement.
Musgrave missed the majority of the 2022 season with a knee injury. He did have 11 receptions in two games, but it is hard to judge a player's improvement on a pair of contests.
Musgrave entered his senior season with career highs of 22 receptions and 304 receiving yards from his junior campaign.
Despite the lack of high totals, Musgrave is listed as the No. 49 overall prospect and No. 4 tight end by Pro Football Focus.
Miami does not ask for a ton of production from its tight ends inside Mike McDaniel's system. Gesicki only had 32 catches for 362 yards last season because of Hill's introduction into the offense.
Musgrave could be a nice target to use in the red zone, but the Dolphins could be turned off by his recent injury. They have to make each one of their four picks count.
If Miami had more picks to use, it may feel more comfortable with choosing someone like Musgrave, but he is too much of a risk when other healthier tight ends could be available in the second or third round.
Nathaniel "Tank" Dell, WR, Houston
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All it takes is one look at Nathaniel "Tank" Dell to understand why the Dolphins would not be interested in him.
The Houston wide receiver was measured at 5'8" and 165 pounds at the NFL combine.
Dell is a similar playmaker to Hill, and he probably would not fit inside a Dolphins offense that added Berrios in free agency.
If the Dolphins drafted Dell, they would have three wide receivers listed at 5'10" or shorter. The only way that would work is if Miami tried to beat every defense with speed.
Miami needs to be realistic with its wide receiver targets in the second and third round. It should go after a player with the build of 2022 fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma.
Ezukanma's lack of production in his rookie season would be the reason why the Dolphins try to find a No. 4 wide receiver in the draft. He had one catch for three yards.
SMU's Rashee Rice, Tennessee's Cedric Tillman and A.T. Perry from Wake Forest would be better targets for the Dolphins. All three prospects are listed at 6'1" or taller and they rank inside PFF's top 100.
Statistics obtained from Sports Reference
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