Sixth-round draft pick Patrick McMorris already has his first fumble for the Miami Dolphins.
The Cal safety had been dealing with spam calls all day Saturday, so when Chris Grier called from a Miami Gardens number, he thought it was a telemarketer — and hung up!
He wisely connected a short time later and got the news he had been waiting for his whole life: He is now a professional football player.
Miami Dolphins Draft Safety Patrick McMorris With 198th Pick
The Basics
Age: 22
Height: 6’
Weight: 207 pounds
Position: Safety
School: California
Current Year: Senior
PFN Big Board Ranking: No. 331 overall
The Fit
Grier told reporters after taking McMorris in the sixth round that the Dolphins “feel good about the players” at safety, but the team believed it needed more depth at the position.
They got that depth in McMorris, who transferred to Cal for his final season to show he could play at a higher level.
MORE: Miami Dolphins 2024 Draft Grades
He’ll have a chance to compete with Elijah Campbell and Nik Needham to be the primary backup to Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer this fall.
McMorris’ best chance of making the team in 2024, however, will be on special teams.
McMorris, who participated in both the NFL Scouting Combine and the Hula Bowl, started all 13 games for the Golden Bears, recording 90 tackles and an interception. He is comfortable playing both safety spots, he told reporters.
PFN’s Grade
“A standout at San Diego State where he tallied four interceptions in 2021, Patrick McMorris is a versatile defensive back prospect who took his chance to play at the Power Five level in 2023, and ensured he left the college level with at least one interception in three consecutive campaigns.
“He’s an intelligent playmaker in the secondary, but is unlikely to develop into an impact maker in the NFL with deficiencies in tackle ability and lacking top-tier athletic traits. The 331st player on the PFN Big Board, he is a significant reach even if he does offer some positional versatility at the next level.” — PFN draft analyst Oliver Hodgkinson
C+
He Said It
“I’m a disciplined player, I’m aggressive. Able to play inside the box as well as outside. … A smart, intelligent player who loves the game.”
KEEP READING: Dolphins Take WR in Round 6
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