Comment on Dolphins NFL draft options: Defensive backs

The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its nine-part series previewing top players in the 2024 NFL draft (April 25-27) with the defensive backs. This collection of defensive backs is solid in the middle but not at the top. There could be five or six cornerbacks selected in the first round, and possibly one safety depending on where Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is projected to play, but perhaps none gets selected until the middle of the first round or so. After that, however, cornerbacks might occupy five of the remaining 15 or 20 picks. Depending on your point of view, the Miami Dolphins could be loaded in the secondary or they could have a lot of proving to do. Either way, Miami could certainly use a safety and, as the Dolphins have demonstrated the past two seasons under coach Mike McDaniel, you can never have too many cornerbacks. All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be a starter on one side, and either newly-signed Kendall Fuller (from Washington), returnee Kader Kohou, last year’s starter in the slot, or Cam Smith, last year’s second-round pick, will start on the other side. The slot could be Kohou or cornerback Nik Needham, who basically missed the 2023 season recovering from an Achilles injury. At safeties the Dolphins have a good set in returnee Jevon Holland, who is on the brink of Pro Bowl status, and newly-signed Jordan Poyer (Buffalo), who is older but still high quality.