Draft Analyst Chad Reuter of the NFL Network and NFL.com released a new 4-round mock draft. In it, he has Miami trading down in Rd 1 from Pick #13 to Pick #16 with the Arizona Cardinals.
In the trade, Miami moves down three spots and picks up a 3rd round pick, Pick #78 overall, while Miami parts with their second 4th round pick, at #135.
Trade 13 and 135 going to Arizona. Miami Receives 16 and 78.
In theory, I love the idea of moving down only three spots to pick up a 4th pick in the Top 100. What I don’t love with this mock is Miami selecting Jahade Barron, the CB out of Texas in Rd 1. While I think Barron is a great player, to me, he is a nickel cornerback, and Miami is in desperate need of a boundary CB, and I am unsure if Barron can be a boundary cornerback. If anything he may translate to a safety over time.
And if Miami does draft him, does that mean they may move Kader Kohou to the boundary cornerback position? Again, I am not in love with that because Kohou has found a role as a nickel cornerback and has done well there.
So, I like the idea of trading down, but with the 16th pick in this mock, I would have gone with Shemar Stewart, Walter Nolen, or Kenneth Grant over Barron.
Round 1, Pick #16: Jahade Barron, CB, Texas
“In this four-round mock, Barron joins second-round pick Xavier Watts (SPOILER ALERT!) to rebuild a Miami secondary in flux. Remember: The Eagles picked two defensive backs in the first two round last year — scooping up Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean — and the strategy helped them win the Super Bowl. Barron proved his long speed with a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, so he could man the perimeter CB spot opposite Jalen Ramsey. That said, his inside/outside versatility is a major strength.”
NFL.com Draft Profile
Overview
Big nickelback was in the right place at the right time throughout his impressive 2024 season. Barron played smothering coverage underneath, fueled by route recognition, footwork and play strength. His instincts allow him to pounce on catch points or tackle pass catchers immediately from zone. However, he lacks recovery speed deep and can be a little too grabby at the top of the route in man. Tackle technique in run support is a shade inconsistent but looks easily correctable. The size and tape work in his favor as a physical nickel who can be an early contributor and future starter, with the potential to cross-train as a safety.
Strengths
- Above-average size and strength as a “big nickel” corner.
- Able to forcefully redirect routes over the first 5 yards.
- Has plus awareness and instincts to make timely responses from zone.
- Ran receiver’s routes for them like he knew the play in 2024.
- Claws, slaps and punches to beat up the catch point.
- Swarms in after catch with good angles and physical strikes.
- Under control and slides his feet to tackle in the open field.
Weaknesses
- Limited exposure in man coverage.
- Might not have the top-end speed to carry verticals solo.
- Average lateral transitions and recovery bust when beaten.
- Needs to run through and wrap up more frequently.
- Short arms could impact ball production and tackle success.
Round 2, Pick #48: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
NFL.com Draft Profile
Overview
Safety with the versatility and ball skills to make plays from a variety of alignments. Watts plays with rare feel and instincts on the back-end, allowing him to range over the top in single-high or read and drive on throws as a split safety. Watts lined up over the slot at times in college, but he might not have the man-cover talent to do that as a pro. His ball skills and production are intoxicating, but his run support and tackling are quite sobering. Watts lacks pursuit discipline and fails to break down in space, leading to open-field misses and back-breaking mistakes. The tackling lowers his floor some, but I expect him to drift toward his ceiling because he’s so good on the back-end.
Strengths
- Rare instincts create on-ball production.
- Plays with excellent twitch and anticipation.
- Eyes and range to play over the top or put lid on Cover 2 buckets.
- Tremendous ball skills and feel for passing lanes.
- Almost never penalized.
- Very rapid diagnosis and response to the run.
- Displays good pre-snap recognition of play design.
- Scheme-independent with ability to play high, low or from slot.
Weaknesses
- Can be frenetic with false steps at the top of the route.
- Narrow pedal creates stiffer coverage transitions.
- Below-average body control and reactive agility.
- Lacks discipline and patience when defending the run.
- Reckless pursuit leverage creates open cutback lanes.
- Must come to balance and drop his entry point as an NFL tackler.
Round 3, Pick #78: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (PICK FROM TRADE WITH ARIZONA)
NFL.com Draft Profile
Overview
Arroyo enters the evaluation process with questions to answer after a knee injury took chunks of two seasons from him. He displayed a willingness as both a point-of-attack and move blocker, but his technique and play strength will need upgrading. He’s an average athlete who struggles to beat man coverage but appeared to get faster and more fluid as the 2024 season wore on. He plays with awareness in space and secures throws with sure hands in traffic. Arroyo is a move tight end whose medical and athletic testing need to check out to give him a legitimate shot at being a productive pro.
Strengths
- Scans coverage in his route path and senses where to find openings.
- Appears confident working into the middle of the defense.
- Makes route adjustments to help a scrambling quarterback.
- Catches with soft, sudden hands.
- Comes off the ball with low pads and lifts into initial contact.
- Played for a head coach who prioritizes blocking effort.
Weaknesses
- Below-average acceleration off the line and into routes.
- Routes are choppy and lack in-and-out quickness.
- Needs a clean runway to get it going after the catch.
- Requires much more technique work for NFL blocking chores.
- Sloppy hand placement and spotty contact balance hurts his sustain.
- Played in just 11 games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to knee injury.
Round 3, Pick #98: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
NFL.com Draft Profile
Overview
A defensive lineman with rare traits, Walker might require a heavier lean on projection over tape. He’s tight-hipped and too upright to really sink in and command the gaps as an even-front defensive tackle. His success rate rises once he’s able to kick out wider in the alignment and engage in more man-to-man battles. Consistent pocket pressure could come if he starts playing with better aggression to overwhelm protection with physical gifts. The tape was better in 2023 and there were times in 2024 that his conditioning showed up as an issue. Walker’s traits and upside could make him a more consistent NFL talent if he improves his technique and ramps up his motor.
Strengths
- Enormous human with elite size and length.
- Can overwhelm opponents with physical traits.
- Uses length and athleticism to play off blocks and slide laterally.
- Firm edge-setter when bumped out to five-technique.
- Pries open pathways to the pocket when finding proper arm extension.
- Athletic feet create rush opportunities across the gaps.
- Expect uptick in pocket pressures with development of more go-to moves.
Weaknesses
- High center of gravity makes anchoring and leveraging gaps an issue.
- Inconsistent technique to absorb and battle blocks on his edge.
- Has trouble staying on balance and on his feet at times.
- Subpar conditioning leads to his motor gassing out.
- Below-average leg bend limits power potential as bull-rusher.
- Could use more consistent grit in his play demeanor.
Round 4, Pick #116: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
NFL.com Draft Profile
Overview
Gabriel is an older and smaller QB prospect, but he offers a tremendous amount of game experience and productivity. He operates with poise and confidence from the pocket. His field vision is average, but he typically takes care of the football. He’s capable of playing within the confines of an offense and can create yards with his legs as needed. Gabriel’s accuracy and timing is accurate on shorter throws, but the placement becomes erratic when pushed outside of his comfortable range. He might require a ball-control passing game to help manage his lack of arm talent and keep him from throwing into closing windows. He’s an effective scrambler who is able to elude pressure and make plays outside of the pocket. Gabriel requires a very specific offensive fit, but he’s a gamer with enough good tape to have a chance to become a decent backup.
Strengths
- Consistent production throughout his career.
- Elite total touchdown numbers, with 189 scores over 64 games.
- Has developed a decent feel for where to go with the football.
- Trusts his protection and rarely appears jittery in the pocket.
- Throws with good touch and natural operation.
- Equally capable with arm or legs when he exits the pocket.
- Dual-threat potential becomes elevated on third downs or near the end zone.
Weaknesses
- Lacks prototypical size for the position.
- Passing scheme allows him to work into big, defined windows.
- Vast majority of 2024 targets were inside of 10 yards, including 25% behind the line, per PFF.
- Average quickness getting through full-field scans.
- Sits on intermediate targets too long with his eyes.
- Ball placement and accuracy isn’t as good as it looks on paper.
- Lacks arm strength to lead receivers on deep shots off play-action.
- Deep-out and deep-seam throws lose their energy.
