2020 NFL mock draft: Josh Jones is the right choice at offensive tackle for the Dolphins

Bill O’Brien’s reign of hilarity as the Houston Texans’ deal maker really began just before last season, when he acquired offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills from the Miami Dolphins for two first-round picks and a second-round pick. Other pieces and parts were thrown in, but Miami fleeced Houston.

That trade gives the Dolphins the ability to reshape their roster over the next two years by adding multiple starters on cheap contracts.

In the SB Nation writers’ mock draft, it’s more fun for Kevin Nogle of The Phinsider. He’s back with his final pick.

Nogle: The fact Justin Herbert and Grant Delpit are still on the board here at 26 feels wrong, but I think Tua Tagovailoa will be the better player over Herbert if he stays healthy and Xavier McKinney fits the Dolphins’ system better than Delpit, so I cannot second-guess those picks. I have two needs in mind when it comes to this pick: offensive line and edge rusher.

D’Andre Swift being available and Miami having a need at running back does become tempting, but I will stick to the two bigger needs here, with the intent to grab a running back in the second round.

That leaves me with center/guard Cesar Ruiz (Michigan), offensive tackle Josh Jones (Houston), offensive tackle Austin Jackson (USC), and Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos as potential selections. I nearly added Ruiz because I think he will be special, but I cannot ignore the tackle position any longer. I love Jones and the potential he has, so he is my pick here. He is not a perfect prospect, and there is some risk that he cannot reach his potential, but I think he is the right pick for the Dolphins.

In the first round, the Dolphins have added two Day 1 starters (assuming Jones can be polished this summer) and their quarterback of the future. They used the pick they received from the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick and now are using the pick they received from the Texans to replace Laremy Tunsil. It seems like a pretty tidy way to finish up a busy first round of the draft for the Dolphins, who now head into Day 2 with two picks in the second round and one in the third.

Analysis: My general feeling about the Dolphins and their three first-round picks is that they need to come away with a quarterback and offensive tackle. In that regard, mission accomplished for The Phinsider.

In terms of the selection of Jones itself, I love it. After Herbert (how is he available?!), Jones was my highest-ranked player, and the No. 20 overall prospect in the draft. Jones is purely a left tackle, and he started 45 games there for Houston. He is a smooth athlete who knows how to play speed rushers. Jones can also get at the second level, picking off linebackers and safeties in space. Although he needs to add more power to his game, he is the type of immediate starter Miami needs.

The final pick of the day in the 14th annual SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft will be up at 1 p.m. ET with Mookie Alexander of Field Gulls making the choice for the Seattle Seahawks.