NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins Select Safety Jevon Holland, Tackle Liam Eichenberg & Tight End Hunter Long
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - On Saturday night, the Miami Dolphins selected safety Jevon Holland out of Oregon, and tackle Liam Eichenberg out of Notre Dame with the 36th and the 42nd picks of the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
In the 3rd Round, with 81st pick, the Dolphins selected tight end Hunter Long out of Boston College.
Holland was drafted after the Denver Broncos leapfrogged them to take a running back.
The Dolphins needed a ball carrier, but Denver moved one spot ahead of them by trading up to select North Carolina's Javonte Williams.
Miami then chose Holland, a native of Canada.
The Dolphins traded up from 50th to 42nd to take 6-foot-6, 306-pound Liam Eichenberg, a three-year starter at left tackle for Notre Dame.
Holland, who grew up in British Columbia, was coached by former NFL back Napoleon Kaufman in high school in Oakland, California. Holland's father, Robert, played Sacramento State and in the Canadian Football League.
"Football is super pop across all of Canada," Holland said. "My dad and brother both played football. It's me just trying to follow in their footsteps. I think it turned out to be a pretty good choice."
Holland had five interceptions as a freshman in 2018 and four as a sophomore, when he also averaged 15.3 yards on 16 punt returns. He opted out last year.
"I played receiver in high school," he said, "and that's where I developed a lot of my ball-hawking ability."
Eichenberg adds further youth to an offensive line that included a franchise-record three rookie starters last year.
On Friday, during Round 1, The fins added wide receiver Jaylen Waddle out of Alabama.
The fins also added defensive end Jaelan Phillips out of the University of Miami.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)