MIAMI — The 2024 NFL draft (on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday, April 25, in Detroit. The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to make six of the draft’s 257 picks, beginning with the No. 21 selection of the first round.

ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Dolphins’ selections as they are made.

A look at each of Miami’s scheduled selections:

Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

Round 1: No. 21: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

My take: At some point, the Dolphins may have a lot of money tied up in their outside linebackers room. But until then, this could end up being one of the better pass-rush rotations in the NFL. Robinson recorded fewer than 12 sacks in three collegiate seasons, but his physical traits jump off the tape. He has a powerful first step and will ideally fill the rotational role left by Andrew Van Ginkel’s departure. Coach Mike McDaniel loves his pass-rushers and he gets an exciting one in Robinson.

Will he start as a rookie: Right away? Not unless he has a phenomenal training camp. But that’s not why Miami drafted him. Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb will start when the team’s at full strength and Robinson will rotate in.

Is the pick for depth or does it fill a hole?: Both. Pass-rusher wasn’t the biggest hole on the Dolphins’ roster (they still don’t have a starting right guard), but their depth at the position was a concern. Miami needed to add to its outside linebackers room, whether via the draft or free agency, and it found a player with a high ceiling, but notable floor.

What’s next: This was Miami’s first pick in the first round since 2021. The Dolphins will pick again at No. 55 overall, and could find a replacement for Robert Hunt at right guard. Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe or UConn’s Christian Haynes are possible options. They could also opt for a defensive tackle or even trade down and recoup some picks in the third or fourth rounds.

Round 2: No. 55: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

My take: Offensive tackle is not an immediate need with Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson set to reprise their roles at left and right tackle, respectively. But Armstead is expected to retire after this season, and Miami had no immediate successor on its roster — until Friday night. Paul has enviable size for the position at 6-foot-7, 330 pounds and made 44 starts for Houston at left tackle. He also registered the longest arm length of any tackle at the combine — a trait which the Dolphins’ staff loves. He’s not a finished product but the opportunity to develop behind Armstead for at least a year should prove invaluable for a player the Dolphins couldn’t hide their excitement about when speaking to the media after the pick.

What we’re hearing: Paul is a massive person, which was immediately noticeable on tape. General manager Chris Grier said Paul’s length “enables him to recover” if he’s beaten early during a rep. His size was also immediately noticeable during his pre-draft visit to Miami; coach Mike McDaniel jokingly added that “more of the hallway is filled than not” when he’s walking inside the team’s facility.

What’s next: Grier didn’t commit to trading into the third round, but the Dolphins currently don’t own another pick until the fifth round, No. 158 overall.

Remaining picks

• Round 5: No. 158
• Round 6: No. 184 (from Chicago)
• Round 6: No. 198
• Round 7: No. 241

Caleb Williams: ‘No reason to duck’ expectations as top NFL draft pick

Domonique Foxworth and Dan Graziano discuss the likelihood of the Bears making the playoffs with Caleb Williams at quarterback. (1:43)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams has dealt with external pressure and scrutiny for years on his journey to become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The former USC star quarterback was criticized for crying after the Trojans lost to Washington last season and for painting his nails.

But nothing will compare to the pressure Williams is about to face in changing the perception around the Chicago Bears — who last won a playoff game in 2010 — after being drafted with the first overall pick Thursday.

Williams, however, isn’t shying away from the enormous expectations that await him in the NFL.

“What’s the reason to duck?” Williams said Friday. “It’s here. There’s no reason to duck. I’m here. Rome [Odunze] is here. Keenan Allen, the top-five defense that we had last year, special teams, all the new roles — whatever. We’re here. I’m excited. I know everybody’s excited. The Bears fans are excited from what I’ve heard and seen, and there’s no reason to duck. Attack it head first and go get it.”

Williams is the first player in Bears history to be drafted at No. 1 and their highest-drafted quarterback since Mitchell Trubisky was taken with the second pick in 2017. Chicago’s search for a franchise quarterback has stretched over decades.

The Bears averaged a league-low 167.1 passing yards per game over the last three seasons combined and totaled 50 interceptions in that time (2nd most in the NFL), prompting them to trade quarterback Justin Fields last month and start over with a rookie.

Chicago chose Williams, a decision general manager Ryan Poles said had been affirmed since the quarterback’s top 30 visit earlier this month, to upgrade its quarterback play. And while growing pains are expected for every rookie transitioning from college to the pros, Williams isn’t giving much thought to potential struggles in his first season.

“I don’t think I think about it, to be honest with you,” Williams said. “I think about just doing my job, handling the things that I can handle, dealing with the small things, holding everybody accountable and everybody holding me accountable, showing up to work every day ready to go and to have fun doing.

“If growing pains do come around, it happens with a lot of players. You deal with it in that moment. You handle it, but I don’t think about it.”

Williams then doubled down on the notion that he expects to be great right away.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he said. “Obviously if there’s growing pains, you handle them. But that doesn’t mean that affects your greatness. There’s trials and tribulations that you go through. Why would I go somewhere, work so hard for so many years and then in every situation I go to believe I’m the best, and then I get here and I don’t believe that?

“That doesn’t mean that I go around and boast. That doesn’t mean that I go around and say that. But the way I handle my work, the way I carry myself every day, how I treat my friends, family, teammates, the faculty, the executives here, the custodians, whatever the case may be – treat everybody as they are, we’re all equal and everybody should think that they’re the best when you do things and you work so hard for stuff.”