Dolphins Select Liam Eichenberg in Round 2: Instant Analysis

The Miami Dolphins selected Notre Dame tackle Liam Eichenberg after making a trade with the New York Giants

The Miami Dolphins' revamping of their offensive line continued in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft when they selected Notre Dame tackle Liam Eichenberg with the 42nd overall selection.

The Dolphins made the pick after swinging a trade with the New York Giants to move up eight spots, from 50, in the round. The cost for the move was a 2022 third-round pick, as announced by Rich Eisen on NFL Network.

Eichenberg was a three-year starter at left tackle at Notre Dame, but it's highly doubtful he'll line up at that position for the Dolphins.

The question actually is whether he'll play right tackle, with 2020 second-round pick Robert Hunt then sliding inside to guard, or compete for one of the guard spots himself.

However it shakes out, the Dolphins got good value with Eichenberg at the 42nd spot because there was some talk Thursday that he actually might slide into the back end of the first round.

The selection of Eichenberg follows the signing of veteran former first-round pick D.J. Fluker and the trade of guard Ereck Flowers back to the Washington Football Team.

At it stands now, the players expected to compete for starting jobs on the offensive line are Eichenberg, Fluker, Hunt, 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson, 2020 fourth-round pick Solomon Kindley, free agent acquisition Matt Skura and veteran swingman Jesse Davis.

Heading into the draft, the offensive line appeared as though it was missing maybe still one piece, and that's why there was talk of perhaps taking Penei Sewell at number 6 overall. Eichenberg is not in Sewell's range as a prospect, but he's viewed as a very solid prospect.


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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.