Here’s a list of all the players the Miami Dolphins would draft in a perfect scenario

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The 2021 NFL Draft is approaching, and the Miami Dolphins are looking to hit the jackpot and bring in a solid new class of talent.

Miami decided to move out of the No. 3 spot in the draft, but deals that involved the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles landed Miami the No. 6 selection in this year’s draft.

With many teams like the 49ers hungry to find a franchise quarterback, Miami is in a unique position to get an elite player with the No. 6 overall selection.

To top it off, Miami has another first-round pick at No. 18, which should help it fill the holes remaining on the roster.

The Dolphins were active in free agency, as they added cornerback Justin Coleman, wide receiver Will Fuller and traded for linebacker Benardrick McKinney.

However, Miami also cut ties with edge rusher Shaq Lawson, linebacker and former captain Kyle Van Noy, veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.

Miami found replacement level players for Fitzpatrick and Godchaux in quarterback Jacoby Brissett and defensive linemen Adam Butler and John Jenkins, but not every hole was filled during free agency.

Here’s an ideal draft scenario (using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator) for the Dolphins if they want to improve on their 10-6 record from last season:

1. Pick No. 6: Kyle Pitts, TE, University of Florida

Kyle Pitts

With the first three teams in the draft almost all but guaranteed to take a quarterback, the draft truly starts at pick No. 4 with the Atlanta Falcons.

It is possible that Atlanta trades the pick to a team hungry to get Mac Jones, Trey Lance or Justin Fields, but either way Atlanta doesn’t necessarily need a tight end.

If Pitts can fall past the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5, he makes perfect sense for Miami.

Tight end Mike Gesicki is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and drafting Pitts would save Miami from having to extend him if it doesn’t want to pay him big money.

Also, Pitts would give Tua Tagovailoa yet another weapon, and Miami has made that a major focus this offseason.

Pitts had 770 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games last season at Florida. Miami could use a dominant red zone threat to pair with Fuller and DeVante Parker on the outside.

2. Pick No. 18: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, University of Southern California

Despite taking Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt in last year’s draft, Miami’s offensive line is still a work in progress.

Vera-Tucker would give the Dolphins some much-needed versatility as a player who can play both guard and tackle.

Pro Football Focus ranked Vera-Tucker as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in this year’s class and to be able to grab him at No. 18 would be a huge steal for Miami.

Sure, the Dolphins could take a running back here, but it still may be a reach at No. 18 to do so.

Instead, they could get a player who allowed just five sacks and three quarterback hits in his career at USC and will once again help put Tagovailoa in the best situation to succeed.

3. Pick No. 36: Najee Harris, RB, University of Alabama

Najee Harris University of Alabama

While drafting a running back high is always a slippery slope because of the injury risk, Harris would be a great pick early on in Round 2.

A team may reach for Harris, Javonte Williams or Travis Etienne in Round 1, but the Dolphins’ dream scenario would have Harris falling to them at No. 36.

A complete back, Harris ran for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns last season and caught 43 passes for 425 yards as well.

While he did have over 200 carries in each of his last two years at Alabama, there isn’t as much wear and tear on his body as he split time during his freshman and sophomore seasons.

The Dolphins currently have just Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, Malcolm Brown and Patrick Laird at running back which leaves a lot to be desired.

Harris would likely be the best back from day one and help take some pressure off the arm of Tagovailoa throughout the season.

4. Pick No. 50: Landon Dickerson, C, University of Alabama

Landon Dickerson

After getting Alabama’s star running back, the Dolphins would complete the package in Round 2 by drafting center Landon Dickerson.

Miami lost starting center Ted Karras in free agency, and while it signed Matt Skura to replace him, it has been reported that the team is open to drafting a center as well.

Dickerson is Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 interior offensive lineman, and he, Vera-Tucker, Jackson and Ereck Flowers could grow into one of the better groups in the NFL.

Miami can’t rely on Skura, who had a PFF grade of just 50.2 last season to anchor the position all year.

Dickerson allowed just one sack over 27 college games and could be the starter as soon as the 2021 season.

5. Pick No. 81: Jamin Davis, LB, University of Kentucky

Davis totaled 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three interceptions last season at Kentucky and could be a coveted player in the draft.

While he isn’t a true edge rusher, Davis would give Miami some flexibility after losing Van Noy and Lawson this offseason.

Van Noy had six passes defended last year and was tasked with dropping in coverage a good amount. Davis would help fill that void while also giving Miami another young linebacker to pair with Jerome Baker for the future.

6. Pick No. 156: Bobby Brown III, DT, Texas A&M University

Bobby Brown III

Brown entered last season as Pro Football Focus’ second-best interior defensive lineman in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

He appeared in nine games last season and totaled 5.5 sacks and 22 tackles.

Miami did sign Butler and Jenkins to help replace Godchaux, but Brown would complete the group and give Miami a young player that could become a cornerstone in its defense.

7. Pick No. 231: William Bradley-King, Edge Rusher, Baylor University

William Bradley-King

Bradley-King played his final collegiate season at Baylor after three years at Arkansas State University.

In 36 career games, he picked up 18.0 sacks and 29.5 tackles for a loss. He did only total 3.5 sacks last season at Baylor, but his 49-tackle, 8.5-sack junior season shows the potential he has, especially in the late rounds.

Seventh-round picks are almost always a work in progress, but Bradley-King could be a sleeper to help replace the loss of Van Noy and Lawson on the edge.

Andrew Van Ginkel will likely get the first crack at the role, but Miami could do worse than Bradley-King at No. 231.

8. Pick No. 258: Trey Dean III, Safety, University of Florida

Trey Dean III

Another seventh-round flier, Dean would help provide depth behind Eric Rowe and Bobby McCain in Miami’s secondary.

In 32 career games at Florida, Dean totaled 86 tackles and three interceptions.

The reason this pick is interesting is because of McCain’s contract.

“The Dolphins can cut McCain after June 1st and save $6.4M against the salary cap in 2021; he’s one of the more prominent cap savings candidates across the roster,” USA Today’s Kyle Crabbs wrote.

If the Dolphins find a safety that they like, it is possible that they will save the money by cutting McCain and giving a youngster like Dean a chance.

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Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.