Miami Dolphins second-round draft pick Liam Eichenberg will apparently be afforded every opportunity to earn the right tackle spot for the upcoming 2021 season.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pointed out that the Dolphins are eager to see if Eichenberg can quickly adapt to protecting the blind side of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
“From what we’re hearing, Eichenberg is going to be given a chance to compete to start at right tackle,” Jackson wrote. “Some Dolphins people believe he can handle that job immediately, but nobody will know until the team puts on pads in August. If he performs well in August, he’s the front-runner to be the new right tackle.”
Eichenberg arrives after playing collegiately for the University of Notre Dame, which has sent a number of offensive lineman to the NFL in recent years.
The fact that the Dolphins moved up to choose Eichenberg with the 42nd overall pick in last week’s draft means that they see him as a key piece for the team’s promising future.
Last season, then-rookie Robert Hunt handled the right tackle position, but he’s in a position to take over the right guard slot.
Coming from Notre Dame, Eichenberg has the intelligence to handle all the nuances of the line and also is versatile enough to play four positions on the line.
If Eichenberg falls short in his starting bid, a player to watch for the right tackle spot is Jesse Davis, who may also battle for a guard slot.
