Dolphins Potential Draft Target: LB Daiyan Henley

The 2023 NFL draft is quickly approaching.

The Miami Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick (would have been 21st overall) due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, but they do have the 51st overall pick, a third-round pick (85) and two Day 3 picks (198 and 241).

Miami is hoping those picks can help them build on a roster that reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2016.

This article series is intended to be an introduction to these players so fans are familiar with a number of options and why they make sense for the Dolphins.

We’ll dive into some simple biographical information, the pros and cons of their game and how they fit into Miami’s scheme or depth chart.

WASHINGTON STATE LB DAIYAN HENLEY

Career Stats: 256 total tackles, 4 sacks, 4 passes defended, 5 INT, 3 forced fumbles

Basic background: Henley has a long and unique backstory. He started as a 2-star wide receiver recruit at the University of Nevada. He played 12 games as a freshman in 2017 and 2018 as a sophomore. Then, Henley transitioned to the defensive side of the ball before the 2019 season, but he suffered a season-ending injury just four games into the season. He bounced back with a strong 2020 season and capped off his Nevada career in 2021 by leading the team in tackles and being named to the All-Mountain West Conference Second Team. With his sixth and final year of eligibility, Henley transferred to Washington State and became an impact defender. He was named to All-Pac-12 Conference First Team as a linebacker and All-Pac-12 Second Team as an all-purpose/special teams player. Henley also led the entire Pac-12 in tackles last season. 

Pros of Henley's Game

Henley is an excellent example of where the linebacker position is going in the modern NFL. He thrives when asked to play in space and coverage. His wide receiver background shows up consistently in how he understands and reacts to route concepts. He’s also capable of getting his hands on the ball to create turnovers. Henley’s speed and overall movement skills make him a solid option in both man and zone coverages. Some players just have a nose for the football, and Henley certainly checks that box. He forced three fumbles last season and recovered two more. When he blitzes, he’s hunting for the ball in the backfield. Henley packs his nose for the football with unquestionable effort. He will pursue run concepts backside, sprint 20 yards down the field to help make a tackle and even got a sack after getting chop blocked to the ground by a running back in pass protection. His blend of speed, athleticism, playmaking ability and effort make him an intriguing option on the second level of any defense. 

Cons of Henley's Game

Henley’s main weaknesses are likely the ones expected from a former wide receiver playing linebacker. He struggles to consistently defend the run when he has to deal with linemen. He doesn’t have a consistent plan for shedding climbing offensive linemen. That leads to Henley getting pushed out of the play without making an impact. He needs to add some functional strength and muscle to his frame. The other main concern is a combination of age and lack of experience. Henley played six seasons of college football, making him an older prospect. Since only three of those seasons were at linebacker (plus one he only played four games in), Henley has a lot of ground to make up. Clearly, he doesn’t always understand where he’s supposed to be or how offenses are trying to attack him. He’s guessing, not playing with pure instinct. Instincts usually come with time, but Henley is an older player, so some teams might shy away from giving him the proper development time to become a three-down linebacker. 

HOW DAIYAN HENLEY FITS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS

Henley isn’t a perfect fit in new Dolphins coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme. However, Fangio has proven he’s capable of adapting his defense over time to match the ever-changing NFL landscape.

Henley is the type of player NFL teams will value more and more as passing games continue to become more robust. The Dolphins could get in on the ground floor and have a defensive chess piece at the second level.

He can play against pesky running backs and dominate the passing game. He can be an effective third-down blitzer and strong zone defender. Henley’s speed and coverage ability would give the Dolphins versatility, which Fangio absolutely values.

It wouldn’t be wise to leave Henley on the field every snap as a rookie, but he and last year’s third-round pick Channing Tindall have the athleticism and playmaking ability to become a potent linebacker duo.

It wouldn’t happen overnight, but Henley is the correct prototype to start investing in. Not to mention, he can play wide receiver in a pinch and is an all-conference special teams standout. 

Odds Henley makes it to 51

There are a couple of reasons to feel good about Henley making it to 51 and even Miami’s pick in the third round. The main one is the value of linebackers. Teams aren’t valuing them as much anymore, and most mock drafts only show one or two going in the top 50 picks. Usually, those players are some combination of Clemson’s Trenton Simpson, Arkansas’ Drew Sanders and Iowa’s Jack Campbell. Henley isn’t considered a household name, even in an underwhelming linebacker group. Additionally, Henley’s age might scare teams away. Some teams refuse to draft players who have played longer than five years in college. Of course, it only takes one team to fall in love with a player, but Henley’s combination of age, lack of linebacker experience and specialized skill set should push him down the board, possibly even into Day 3. 

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