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NFL mock draft 5.0: Jalen Ramsey forces Miami Dolphins to address secondary | Habib

Published

9 months ago

April 24, 2025

Press Room

NFL mock draft 5.0: Jalen Ramsey forces Miami Dolphins to address secondary | Habib

The Miami Dolphins select cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 13th overall pick in this mock draft.
The first tight end selected is Tyler Warren, going to the Indianapolis Colts at pick No. 14.

At last, the NFL draft is upon us. Time for mock draft 5.0, a final look at what teams will do in Round 1, including the Miami Dolphins, who now have a Jalen Ramsey issue to deal with:

1. Tennessee Titans

QB Cam Ward, Miami

Titans didn’t send an army (including a video crew) to UM’s pro day just to pile up Marriott points.

2. Cleveland Browns

CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

One drama ends, another begins. The Browns decide they can’t pass on Hunter’s versatility, fending off feelers from teams including the Dolphins. Meanwhile, the slide of Hunter’s collegiate teammate, QB Shedeur Sanders, starts.

3. New York Giants

Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State

Seen as an impact player right out of the gate.

4. New England Patriots

OT Will Campbell, LSU

Team that was so active in free agency lands the best offensive lineman on the board.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

DL Mason Graham, Michigan

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares him to Christian Wilkins.

6. Las Vegas Raiders

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

No reason the Raiders let more than a minute go by when they’re on the clock. We know they like Jeanty. They know they like Jeanty. Now, Jeanty knows it, too.

7. New York Jets

OT Armand Membou, Missouri

Fast riser after running a 4.91 at the Combine and showing uncanny athleticism. May have gone to the Dolphins if he lasted until No. 13.

8. Carolina Panthers

Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia

Multi-talented edge rusher/LB brings leadership to a team hoping to make a move in the NFC South.

9. New Orleans Saints

QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

The slide finally ends, giving Mel Kiper something else to yak about. Meanwhile, Sanders’ father sends out a warning to seven teams passing on his son, sparing only the Browns from his wrath.

10. Chicago Bears

Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Pearce ran 4.47 at the Combine. That’s a hair faster than Chop Robinson’s 40 time (4.48) last year.

11. San Francisco 49ers

Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Stewart, who attended Pace High in Miami, is imposing at 6-5 and 267 (14 pounds lighter than at the Senior Bowl). He put up Myles Garrett-like numbers in Combine drills, too.

12. Dallas Cowboys

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Jerry Jones curses the Raiders for taking Jeanty, then goes for someone to pair with CeeDee Lamb.

CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

GM Chris Grier is tempted to take Penn State TE Tyler Warren. Very tempted. He also weighs Michigan CB Will Johnson. But the news that Jalen Ramsey has one foot out the door makes cornerback a need of 911 proportions. Barron won the Thorpe Award as the top DB. He tied for fourth in FBS with five interceptions, had 11 pass breakups and is physical (67 tackles).

14. Indianapolis Colts

TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Thank you very much, the Colts tell the Dolphins. Mackey Award winner becomes first tight end off the board. Let’s see how many times analysts say the name “Brock Bowers” in relation to this pick.

15. Atlanta

Edge Mike Green, Marshall

Pass rusher provides explosive power the Falcons are looking for.

16. Arizona Cardinals

IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama

Well-rounded, smart and a strong leader.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

DL Walter Nolen, Mississippi

Athletic and explosive, seen as player who can go three downs.

18. Seattle

OT Kelvin Banks, Texas

Needs work on pass protection but Seahawks land a polished run blocker.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares him to Buffalo’s Gregory Rousseau. Rising talent who needs experience to catch up to rivals, but the skillset is there.

20. Denver Broncos

TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

Pass-catcher in the mold of Detroit’s Sam LaPorta, but he’s coming off shoulder surgery.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

S Malaki Starks, Georgia

Player I pegged for the Dolphins ends up sliding from No. 13 to 21 thanks to the Ramsey situation.

22. Los Angeles Chargers

DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Jim Harbaugh goes for a Michigan man. Who would have guessed it?

23. Green Bay Packers

Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Reminds some of Trey Hendrickson. Versatile pass rusher.

24. Minnesota Vikings

S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

Athletic safety with tremendous size (6-3, 220) and speed (4.38). Hasn’t always maximized his skills, but maybe Brian Flores can change that.

25. Houston Texans

OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

Texans hope he can be Laremy Tunsil’s replacement.

26. Los Angeles Rams

WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Primarily works well out of the slot but without burning speed.

27. Baltimore Ravens

OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

Conerly’s stock said to be rising. Ravens’ wish comes true as stock doesn’t rise enough that he’s gone by No. 27.

28. Detroit Lions

Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Relies on quickness, bend, athleticism to beat blockers. Three-down player.

29. Washington Commanders

CB Will Johnson, Michigan

Rated as “boom-or-bust potential” by NFL.com, Johnson slides until Commanders come along and are happy to give him a shot.

30. Buffalo Bills

DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Should make it tougher for Dolphins to run on the Bills.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

Patrick Mahomes was sacked more times (36) than any other season in the NFL. Jackson and the returning Trey Smith will be counted on to help correct that.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

WR Matthew Golden, Texas

Versatile receiver strengthens an already imposing corps for Jalen Hurts.

When is the 2025 NFL draft?

When: April 24-26

Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay

Complete list of Miami Dolphins picks in the 2025 NFL Draft

* Compensatory pick.

Round Pick Overall

1. 13 13

2. 16 48

3. 34 98*

4. 14 116

4. 33 135*

5. 13 150

5. 19 155 (via Denver in Bradley Chubb deal)

7. 8 224 (via Chicago in Chase Claypool deal)

7. 15 231

7. 37 253*

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Miami, FL

Miami‑Dade crowds join nationwide protests after deadly ICE shooting

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Miami‑Dade crowds join nationwide protests after deadly ICE shooting

Across the country, demonstrators gathered Saturday to demand accountability after the deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota earlier this week. In Miami‑Dade, crowds met at a well‑known gathering spot for Venezuelans, calling for justice and the release of detainees. Similar protests unfolded in Washington, D.C., and in Manhattan, where people took to the streets to voice concerns directed at federal leadership and agencies.

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Miami, FL

It’s Indiana and Miami in a college-football title matchup that once seemed impossible

Published

15 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

It’s Indiana and Miami in a college-football title matchup that once seemed impossible

It looked improbable two months ago.

Two years ago — impossible.

But against the odds, Miami and Indiana have a date in the College Football Playoff final — a first-of-its-kind matchup on Jan. 19 in the second national title game of the expanded-playoff era.

The Hoosiers (15-0), the top-seeded favorite in the 12-team tournament, stomped Oregon 56-22 on Friday night to reach the final. The Hurricanes (13-2), seeded 10th and the last at-large team to make the field, beat Mississippi 31-27 the night before.

Indiana opened as a 7 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook.

The game is set for Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida — the long-ago-chosen venue for a game that happens to be the home of the Hurricanes. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a Miami native who grew up less than a mile from the campus in Coral Gables.

“It means a little bit more to me,” Mendoza said of the title game doubling as a homecoming.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck (11) holds the offensive player of the game trophy after winning the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin

He’ll be going against the program known as “The U.” Miami won five titles between 1983 and 2001 and earned the reputation as college football’s brashest renegade.

A quarter century later, they are one side in a tale of two resurgences.

Miami’s was sparked by coach Mario Cristobal, a local boy and former ‘Cane himself who came back home four years ago to lead his alma mater to a place it hasn’t been in decades.

Among his biggest wins was luring quarterback Carson Beck to spend his final year of eligibility with the ‘Canes.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal yells from the sideline during... — Miami head coach Mario Cristobal yells from the sideline during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. Credit: AP/Rick Scuteri

Beck, steadily rounding back to form after an elbow injury that ended his season at Georgia last year, is getting better every week. He has thrown for 15 TDs and two interceptions over a seven-game winning streak dating to Nov. 8.

“He’s hungry, he’s driven, he’s a great human being, and all he wants to do is to see his teammates have success,” Cristobal said after Beck threw for 268 yards and ran for the winning touchdown against Ole Miss.

It was the latest step in a long climb from No. 18 in the season’s first CFP rankings on Nov. 4 — barely within shouting distance of the bubble — after their second loss of the season.

The Hurricanes haven’t lost since.

Hoosiers rise from nowhere to the edge of a title

Indiana’s climb to the top is an even longer haul. This is the program that had a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years heading into the 2024 season. Since then, only two.

The turnaround is thanks to coach Curt Cignetti, who arrived from James Madison and declared: “It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me,” while explaining his confident tone at a signing day news conference in December 2023 when he landed the core of the class that has taken Indiana from obscurity to the edge of a title.

But Indiana’s biggest catch came about a year ago from the transfer portal — the oxygen that drives the current game.

Mendoza, who went to the same high school as Cristobal in Miami, chose Indiana as the place to finish his career. So far, he has won the Heisman Trophy and is all but assured to be a top-five pick in the NFL draft.

“Can’t say enough about him,” Cignetti said.

One more win and he’ll bring a national title and an undefeated season to Indiana, an even 50 years after the Hoosiers’ 1975-76 basketball team, led by coach Bob Knight, did the same.

Lots of people could see that one coming. Hard to say the same about this.

CFP selection committee almost kept this game from happening

It might seem like ancient history, but Miami almost didn’t make the playoffs.

In its first ranking of the season, back in November, the CFP selection committee ranked the Hurricanes eight spots behind a Notre Dame team they beat to start the season.

The history of Miami’s slow crawl up the standings, then its leapfrogging past the Irish for the last spot, has been well-documented. If Miami’s trip to the final proved anything, it’s how off-base the committee was when it started the ’Canes at 18, even if they were coming off a loss at SMU, its second of the season.

Though these programs haven’t met since the 1960s, there is familiarity.

One of the best games of 2024 was Miami’s comeback from 25 points down to beat Cal. The quarterback for the Bears: Mendoza, who threw for 285 yards but got edged out by Cam Ward in a 39-38 loss.

With Ward headed for the NFL, the Hurricanes were a consideration for Mendoza as he sought a new spot to finish out his college career. But he picked Indiana, Beck moved to Miami, and now, they meet.

Miami cashes in big

The College Football Playoff will distribute $20 million to the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences for placing their teams in the finals — that’s $4 million for making it, $4 million for getting to the quarters, then $6 million each for the semis and finals.

While the Big Ten divvies up that money evenly between its 18 members, Miami keeps it all for itself — part of a “success initiatives program” the ACC started last season that allows schools to keep all the postseason money they make in football and basketball.

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Miami, FL

Tributes grow as police investigate Hollywood Beach killing

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Tributes grow as police investigate Hollywood Beach killing

January 9, 2026 / 9:20 PM EST
/ CBS Miami

New details are emerging in the death of a woman whose body was found on Hollywood Beach the day after Christmas.

Police say 56‑year‑old Heather Asendorf was discovered by a passerby. People who frequent the beach say she was a familiar sight at the bandshell near Margaritaville, where she danced most nights in brightly lit shoes.

Harrison, a frequent visitor who did not want to give his last name, said he saw her nearly every day.

“She was very friendly, polite. She loved to dance,” he said.

Suspect arrested four days later

Four days after she was found, Hollywood police arrested 28‑year‑old Brandon McCray and charged him with sexual battery, kidnapping, and battery by strangulation.

McCray was taken into custody at a Hollywood motel off Federal Highway. His permanent address is listed in Coconut Creek, where no one answered the door when approached for comment about his arrest.

Police are still working to determine how Asendorf’s path crossed with McCray’s.

Tributes pour in from friends

Tributes for Asendorf are pouring in, especially from the annual State College Townie Reunion community in central Pennsylvania, where she had deep roots.

Among the messages shared: