Some Needed Perspective on the Xavier Worthy-to-Miami Dolphins Hype Train

The Miami Dolphins absolutely are considering selecting a wide receiver in Round 1 of this year’s NFL Draft, with Texas’ dynamic Xavier Worthy on the list of possibilities.

We’re hearing it from far too many people for it to be a smoke screen.

But consider us skeptics that they’re going to take Worthy at 21. While the Worthy-to-Miami chatter has grown deafening over the last week, it’s time for a much-needed reality check.

Will Miami Dolphins Go Receiver in Round 1 of NFL Draft?

Dolphins GM Chris Grier said just last week that the Dolphins are going to take the best player on their board at 21.

Here are Grier’s exact words from his pre-draft news conference:

“It’s always the best player available, as we’ve talked about over the years. So whatever position that is that can impact us in Round 1, if we have that pick, we’ll be excited to add them.

“… We definitely feel there will be one or two players that we really like. … We feel that we can get an impact player there that will help our team and roster, and we’d be very excited to add. We’ve gone through it a few times. We’ll keep going through it here. We feel good about who would be there at No. 21 if we were to pick there.”

Simply put, it would take every morsel of credulity to believe that Worthy — who broke the NFL Scouting Combine’s 40-yard dash record (with a 4.21-second time) in March — will truly be the best player on the Dolphins’ board if they pick at 21.

Worthy — who had 75 catches for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns his final year at Texas — is the No. 27 player (No. 5 wide receiver) on PFN’s Big Board. He’s the No. 35 player overall and No. 7 receiver, behind even teammate Adonai Mitchell, on the PFN Industry Consensus Big Board. He’s a late first/early second-round prospect.

Are the Dolphins seeing something that others are missing? Perhaps.

From a fit standpoint, Worthy is a home run. The Dolphins could move on from Tyreek Hill in the next year or two, and he’s the kind of player that makes Mike McDaniel, who made sure to get a front-row seat for Worthy’s pro day, swoon.

But taking Worthy at 21 would be a mistake if, as expected, a top-15 talent slips out of the top 20.

There’s a real chance that there’s a run on quarterbacks and all the tackles that Dolphins love are gone. But if that happens, someone rated higher than Worthy will slide.

Maybe it’s LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who would be a great pick at 21. Maybe it’s a corner like Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold. Maybe it’s an EDGE like Dallas Turner or Jared Verse.

But someone is going to fall. And the Dolphins need to take advantage of that good fortune.

Should the Dolphins pass on that player to take Worthy, they need a complete audit of their evaluation process. It might suggest that Grier — whose DNA is to build through the trenches — has become too deferential to McDaniel.

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That’s not to say Worthy isn’t a fine player worthy of going in the first round. But if they are determined to acquire him, they should trade back to make it a good value pick.

Worthy at, say, 29 plus an additional mid-round pick? Sign us up for that.

Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s all-new Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls — lone wolf or with your friends!