NFL Mock Draft 2024: Pete Prisco’s latest forecast boosts the Miami Dolphins’ defensive line.

We’re deep into mock draft season. Who does CBS Sports senior writer Pete Prisco predict the Miami Dolphins will select with the 21st overall pick? Let’s find out.

The countdown to the 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off in just two weeks, marks the beginning of an eagerly anticipated three-day event that will see 257 college prospects drafted into the league. With the draft rapidly approaching, the NFL community finds itself immersed in the midst of the bustling 2024 NFL mock draft season, where enthusiasts and analysts alike eagerly await the unveiling of new projections for the first round on a daily basis.

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Adding to the anticipation, CBS Sports’ esteemed analyst Pete Prisco recently updated his projections with the release of his mock draft 2.0. Reflecting on his initial forecast from April 2nd, where Prisco envisioned the Miami Dolphins utilizing their 21st overall pick to select tackle Amarius Mims from Georgia, one can’t help but wonder: has Prisco revised his stance in his latest mock draft?

In a notable departure from his previous prediction, Prisco redirects the Dolphins’ draft trajectory in his updated projection. Rather than focusing on bolstering the offensive line, Prisco shifts his attention to the defensive front, aiming to address the departure of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who departed via free agency to join the Las Vegas Raiders.

Prisco’s decision to pivot towards the defensive line reflects a strategic shift in the Dolphins’ draft strategy, as they seek to fortify their roster and fill key positional needs ahead of the upcoming season.

In Prisco’s second mock draft, he predicts that the Miami Dolphins will choose defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton from Illinois. Prisco justifies this decision by stating:

With the departure of Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency, there’s an opportunity to enhance the defensive line with a smaller yet agile interior player. While the team has brought in some veteran players for support, Jer’Zhan Newton has the potential to establish himself as a long-term starter in the interior position.

Newton had surgery after the college football season, which sidelined him from participating in workouts at both the NFL Scouting Combine and Illinois’s pro day. However, if his foot has fully recovered, he could still showcase his abilities to teams in a private setting. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 304 pounds, he may not be the largest defensive lineman prospect, but he’s only two inches shorter and six pounds lighter than Wilkins. Despite playing on the interior defensive line, Newton has garnered attention for his knack for pass rushing and disrupting plays in the backfield, characteristics that could enable him to fulfill a similar role to Wilkins with Miami.