Dolphins Potential Draft Target: LB Henry To'oTo'o
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.
ALABAMA LB HENRY TO'OTO'O
Career Stats: 353 total tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble.
Basic background: To’oTo’o was rated as one of the five best linebacker recruits in the country before committing to Tennessee, where he played his first two seasons. He was named a 2019 Freshman All-America by 247Sports with the Volunteers. To’oto’o was put onto the field immediately, as he made 12 starts as a freshman and 10 more as a sophomore. Then, he decided to transfer to play under Nick Saban at Alabama. There, To’oTo’o would start for the next two seasons. As a senior in 2022, he earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches.
Pros of To'oTo'o's Game
To'oTo'o’s biggest strength is how well rounded a player he became after four years of starting in the SEC. He’s best when used as a weakside linebacker, kept clean from dealing with offensive linemen. Saban has commented on how intelligent To’oTo’o is, and it shows on film when he’s kept clean at the second level. He shows good speed to make plays near the sideline on concepts like screens and outside zone runs. To’oTo’o’s speed and smarts make him a solid zone coverage defender. He won’t get fooled easily by backfield motion or overcommit to play-action fakes. His leadership and aptitude for making the calls for a defensive scheme as complex as Alabama’s also bode well for his transition to the NFL. If To’oTo’o hits his developmental ceiling, he can be an every-down starting middle linebacker, serving as the captain of the defense.
Cons of To'oTo'o's Game
To’oTo’o’s greatest strength is also, arguably, his greatest weakness. While he doesn’t struggle in many areas, he lacks a “trump card trait.” There’s not a single part of his game that stands out as above-average. Put simply, he’s “good” but not great in many areas. With that said, one area he’s not great in is taking on offensive linemen with physicality. To’oTo’o is kind of small. He measured in at 6-1, 227 pounds at the NFL Combine. His height is in the 31st percentile, and his weight is in the ninth percentile for NFL linebackers. To’oTo’o’s 65th percentile arm length does help him mask some weaknesses, but that will become more difficult in the NFL. Long term, he’ll have to figure out a way to get a little heavier and stronger. With the way he plays and the weight he’s carrying now, NFL offensive linemen will have no problem driving him into the ground if they make contact with him.
HOW HENRY TO'OTO'O FITS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins have a need at linebacker, even after adding David Long Jr. in free agency and re-signing Duke Riley to join Jerome Baker and Channing Tindall.
To’oTo’o’s speed and pedigree make him an attractive fit into new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.
The Dolphins need better coverage reps from their linebackers, and To’oTo’o is pretty reliable in short to intermediate zone coverage. The Dolphins’ defensive line with players like Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler should keep To’oTo’o clean a fair amount.
What’s really appealing for Miami is To’oTo’o’s long-term projection. He’s got the natural athletic ability to survive in an NFL that gets faster every season, and he has the football intelligence to call defensive plays.
That last part might not happen right away because he’s got some developing to do in his functional ability to defend the run. However, the mental aspect of his game is already NFL-caliber.
Odds To'oTo'o makes it to 51
To’oTo’o saw first-round hype last season and over the summer, but he never quite lived up to those expectations. Looking at most prominent website's mock drafts, To’oTo’o is rarely selected within the first 51 picks.
That’s likely due to his lack of overall size and the linebacker position not being highly valued in the NFL. The only players getting first-round hype are freak athletes like Clemson’s Trenton Simpson. To'oTo'o is a good athlete, but he’s nothing close to “freak levels.”
There’s a chance some team views To’oTo’o’s football intelligence as a standout trait and selects him higher than 51; however, that seems unlikely given how athleticism seems to be the defining trait of linebackers taken in the first two rounds.
To’oTo’o should be on the board when Miami picks at 51, and while he’s worth considering at that selection, his talent and overall skill set make more sense with Miami’s third-round pick.
Unfortunately, there’s a real chance he’s off the board at that point.
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