First of all: take everything you see and read as reports at face value at this time of year. The dynamics of the NFL draft will lead to a lot of misinformation and ability to play between teams through media sources. The goal is simple: keep guessing the other teams. And while the Miami Dolphins are part of the teams that are usually effective at “protecting the smoke” from the competition, the team still undeniably has a guy and it hasn’t been a surprise to see where the Dolphins have gone. at the beginning of each of the last two. NFL Drafts (at least in the top 20).
Miami has two more important selections among the 20 that await them next Thursday. And while the team may ideally seek to optimize the value of both teams, pressure from other teams in the queue may force Miami to take advantage of its proverbial “high ground” if it believes it must have a player in a specific position.
Take for example Najee Harris, an Alabama runner. According to most accounts, writing Harris at number 18 is generally a bit rich for the price of a current setback. But there are reports linking the Pittsburgh Steelers to Harris, which will pop into the dolphins ’minds when they get to the clock.
The latest comes from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who reports that Pittsburgh hopes to add a feature that won’t occur before the second round, but probably in the first round. Meanwhile, Harris spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on the Schefter podcast and spoke brilliantly about his interview with Pittsburgh in the pre-draft process.
Maybe all of that means being smoke, pushing a player that Pittsburgh really wants in their laps if they can convince Miami to go in a different direction. But knowledge of Pittsburgh’s rumored interest will no doubt remain in Miami’s mind when they arrive at the clock with the No. 18 general team next Thursday.
We’ll see if the pressure reaches Chris Grier and company or if the Dolphins decide to roll the dice.