An injury to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa derailed any momentum that the Miami Dolphins had going into the season. It led to Miami missing the playoffs, Tyreek Hill having the worst year of his career and potentially demanding a trade, and the future looking murkier than ever.
However, help could be on the way by way of the 2025 NFL Draft. With the 13th overall pick, Miami has a chance to truly add a valuable piece to their team, and veteran analyst Warren Sharp believes it will come at the offensive end for the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins Gain Size on Offense
During their current iteration under head coach Mike McDaniel, Miami’s offense has relied heavily on its ground game and wide receivers. That leaves the middle of the field relatively open, and Sharp believes it’s something the Dolphins can incorporate.
At No. 13 overall, he believes Miami’s best-case scenario is going after tight end Tyler Warren from Penn State. The first tight end selected in his mock draft, Sharp believes Warren could be a boost to McDaniel’s offense, calling back to his time as offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.
“Miami’s offense hasn’t regularly featured tight ends under Mike McDaniel, but McDaniel proved he could use the right tight end when he had George Kittle in San Francisco. He also featured Jonnu Smith at the end of the 2024 season. Like Kittle, Warren can block in addition to his pass-game contributions, which likely appeals to McDaniel.”
🚨 Mock Draft 1.0 🚨
(no trades allowed version)
team needs + full logic for every pick
READ:https://t.co/pvnUQyEDAM pic.twitter.com/HB0fJzJitz
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 11, 2025
Meanwhile, according to the latest PFSN 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Dolphins will instead prioritize Tua’s protection and go with Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
Versatile and a productive blocker, Banks can be a valuable addition to ensure his quarterback’s safety.
Warren, however, goes much higher in PFSN’s mock at No. 7 overall to the New York Jets. A team in constant disarray, the Jets can go in several directions. But ultimately, mock draft specialist Brentley Weissman believes they’ll go with the best available prospect.
According to Weissman, “Warren is a do-it-all tight end who offers excellent receiving skills but also is a plus player in the run game. He would fit in nicely in the Jets’ offense and immediately be their No. 2 option in the receiving game outside of Garrett Wilson.”
After aggregating 1,233 yards in his final collegiate season, Warren would be a surefire hit for any roster. The Dolphins finished with the 15th-ranked offense last season in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, a little higher than the Jets, who came in at 19th.
But that was without Tagovailoa, who missed a chunk of time due to injury. He finished as the eighth-ranked quarterback in the NFL by PFSN’s QB+ metric. It’s safe to assume that a healthy year for the Hawaiian might have greatly improved the overall season-long offense of the Dolphins.
With the quarterback position in flux in New York, Warren might be a more ideal fit with the Jets. The Dolphins, on the other hand, can focus on their front line to provide Tagovailoa with greater protection.