When offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil dropped in the draft, the Dolphins pounced. He may start his career inside at guard, but if his off-field stuff isn't an issue, he can be a star. The Dolphins had to get a cornerback early, and did with Xavien Howard in the second round. He's inconsistent, but has size and pure ability. The same can be said for third-round pick Kenyan Drake. He can do a lot of different things, but has trouble holding onto the ball. Carroo at times looked like a future No. 1 wide out at Rutgers, but they had poor quarterback play and he had some off-field issues. The Dolphins got a burner in Grant in the sixth round. He's a touchdown waiting to happen on special teams.
—Dan Kadar, SB Nation
There are obvious red flags for Tunsil, but the Dolphins appear to be comfortable with those issues. They now should be able to immediately fill four of the five offensive line positions, with Ja'Wuan James, Branden Albert, and Tunsil in both tackle spots and one guard position, while Mike Pouncey takes the center spot. The only issue is to decide which combination of tackles is the best for Miami, and whether Tunsil is ready to immediately move into the left tackle spot, if he needs to play right tackle to start his career, or if Miami should start him at left guard next to the Pro Bowler Albert.
With the 38th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins have selected cornerback Xavien Howard from Baylor. The Dolphins traded up from the 42nd overall spot to make this pick. The Jacksonville Jaguars originally held the 38th pick, but the moved up to the 36th spot to select linebacker Myles Jack. The Baltimore Ravens were briefly in possession of the 38th pick, but sent it to the Dolphins, who gave Baltimore the 42nd position and the team's 4th round pick.
Drake is a home-run hitter, able to break a long run at any point, and he is a solid receiver. He worked primarily as a backup to Derrick Henry last year, but he is seen as a quality running back. He receives comparisons to Reggie Bush, who had his best years of his career when in Miami. Drake needs to show a little more patience at times, but he is going to add an explosive element to the Miami offense this year.
With the 86th pick overall pick, the Miami Dolphins selected wide receiver Leonte Carroo. The selection will give the Dolphins some depth at an already stacked wide receiver position. The Dolphins traded back up into the third round to select him.
Grant, at 5-foot-6, is likely primarily a returner for the Dolphins. He officially ran a 4.38 second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, but told the media after the pick that he has been hand timed by his coaches as running a 4.1 second, and that he was "pissed" by the Pro Day time.
Lucas could be moved to the slot as a cornerback in the NFL, and he did play it in college before moving to safety. At 6-foot, 201 pounds, he does have the size Miami seems to want at cornerback, and he has the man-coverage skills the team wants. He could play a role similar to Jimmy Wilson in the past and Michael Thomas now, where he is a hybrid "big-nickel" type of player, working both as a nickel corner and as a safety.
Doughty does not have prototypical arm strength for the NFL, but he has outstanding accuracy and he makes good decisions. He can get antsy in a crowded pocket, but if the offensive line can keep him clean, he does well in getting through his progressions. He will be a developmental quarterback for Miami, but he is one who can sit either third on the depth chart or on the practice squad and continue to learn.
Duarte is transitioning from a wide receiver to a tight end, so he will have to work to develop his blocking, but he has the athleticism to be a solid receiving threat from the tight end position, and he can be a matchup issue. He will need to add more muscle mass at the NFL level, but as a seventh round pick, he is a solid pickup for Miami.