The lengthy anticipate the Miami Dolphins to make their first decide of the 2022 NFL draft resulted within the group taking Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall with decide No. 102 on the finish of the third spherical.
Tindall (6-foot-2, 230 kilos) was a nationwide champion with the Bulldogs final season, the place he was tied for third on the group with 67 tackles as an inside linebacker who can go sideline to sideline. He collected 108 tackles, 16 for loss, and 12 sacks in his faculty profession.
Dolphins basic supervisor Chris Grier touted Tindall’s pace among the many traits he and the group appreciated because the prospect ran a 4.47-second 40-yard sprint on the NFL scouting mix in March.
“He’s a player that we have been targeting throughout the process,” Grier stated late Friday night time. “For us, it’s the versatility. The speed is what we like, his ability to play all three downs and play special teams, as well.”
Tindall was one of many prospects that was invited to Dolphins’ headquarters for a pre-draft go to.
“I felt like home,” stated Tindall, who watched the draft alongside shut household and pals. “I just loved the campus, the facility they had there. I got in with the linebackers coach [Anthony Campanile], the whole staff.”
Versatility, which Grier famous about Tindall, was one thing he appreciated about learning the Dolphins protection, lining linebackers up in several spots, particularly with main tackler Jerome Baker in a position to play in and out.
Linebacker was a place the Dolphins had been anticipated to deal with on this draft. The group introduced again Elandon Roberts, Duke Riley, Sam Eguavoen and Brennan Scarlett from final 12 months’s roster, however might nonetheless use an improve to pair with Jerome Baker on the within, in addition to Jaelan Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel on the skin.
Grier famous the Dolphins are nonetheless a lot happy with the linebackers they re-signed this offseason.
“Those guys are good players,” he stated. “They know our system. We know what they are on and off the field, how they contribute to this team.”
The Dolphins, opting to not commerce up between Thursday and Friday, chosen Tindall with a compensatory decide they acquired from the San Francisco 49ers on the finish of the third spherical after they didn’t have picks within the first two rounds. The decide was introduced by Hall of Fame Dolphins fullback Larry Csonka from the draft in Las Vegas.
The Dolphins’ alternatives within the preliminary two rounds had been traded in a five-pick bundle to the Kansas City Chiefs for star vast receiver Tyreek Hill, who has made the Pro Bowl in all six of his NFL seasons. That first-round decide, No. 29, initially belonged to the 49ers whereas Miami’s personal second-rounder, No. 50 general, was additionally shipped off, together with a fourth-rounder this 12 months and fourth- and sixth-round picks subsequent 12 months within the blockbuster deal.
Grier stated the Dolphins had been working the telephones on Friday night time to see if they may transfer as much as draft numerous prospects, however finally, groups needed a bit of Miami’s 2023 draft capital, which the Dolphins weren’t prepared to give up.
“We had discussions about multiple players that we were trying to move up to land, but teams wanted to make their picks,” Grier stated. “We were not going to give up any picks from the 2023 draft, the upcoming draft class. For us, those were non-negotiables.”
The Dolphins have 5 picks within the first three rounds in 2023, with two within the first and two within the third.
No. 102 is the deepest right into a draft Miami has made its first decide and first time the group didn’t choose within the draft’s first two rounds since 2002. That 12 months, the group selected middle Seth McKinney at No. 90 general after Miami’s first-round decide went to the New Orleans Saints in a commerce for operating again Ricky Williams and second-rounder was shipped to Philadelphia in a trade-up within the earlier draft.
With these two high selections that went to the Chiefs, Kansas City ultimately traded each to the New England Patriots. New England made the primary spherical’s most shocking decide of Tennessee-Chattanooga guard Cole Strange at 29, after which took Baylor vast receiver Tyquan Thornton, a Miami Booker T. Washington High alum, at 50.
Tindall was the seventh Georgia defender and ninth Bulldog general drafted when the Dolphins chosen him. Five defensive gamers went within the first spherical: defensive linemen Travon Walker (Jaguars), Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt (Packers), linebacker Quay Walker and security Lewis Cine (Vikings). Wide receiver George Pickens (Steelers) and operating again James Cook (Bills), a Miami Central High alum, had been picked within the second spherical. One of the shock drops within the draft, was Tindall’s Georgia teammate Nakobe Dean, who was extensively projected as a first-round decide however full to the third spherical at No. 83 to the Eagles.
After crossing off the group’s linebacker want with the Tindall decide, the Dolphins might nonetheless be anticipated to have a look at middle, different offensive line positions, edge rusher, operating again or vast receiver once they’re again on the clock within the fourth spherical on Day 3, the ultimate day of the 2022 draft.
Miami owns decide 125 general in that fourth spherical, together with two seventh-round alternatives however might at all times commerce so as to add extra.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com