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MIAMI — The 2022 NFL draft is being held through Saturday and every Miami Dolphins draft pick will be analyzed here.

The draft will be held in Las Vegas on the strip in the area adjacent to Caesars Forum two years after it was initially scheduled. The 2020 NFL draft was turned into a virtual event because of COVID-19.

Here’s a pick-by-pick look at how each player Miami has selected will fit.

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Round 3, No. 102 overall: Channing Tindall, ILB, Georgia

My take: The Dolphins brought their entire corps of inside linebackers back this offseason, but it’s still a thin group overall that could use a sideline-to-sideline defender. Enter: Tindall. The former Bulldog is one of the fastest linebackers in this draft and should contribute quickly. Especially in a division that features one of the most dynamic players in the NFL in Bills QB Josh Allen, it was critical for the Dolphins to add as much speed as possible to the middle of their defense.

What’s next: The wait for the Dolphins’ second pick of this year’s draft won’t take as long as the first — they pick again at No. 125 overall. From there, they only have two remaining picks, both in the seventh round (Nos. 224 and 227). Miami doesn’t have any glaring needs, but could stand to add depth to its interior offensive and defensive lines. But considering the state of its roster, Miami is in a position to take the best player available.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The 2022 NFL draft is being held Thursday through Saturday and every New England Patriots draft pick will be analyzed here.

The draft will be held in Las Vegas on the Strip in the area adjacent to Caesars Forum two years after it was initially scheduled. The 2020 NFL draft was turned into a virtual event because of COVID-19.

Here’s a pick-by-pick look at how each player New England has selected will fit.

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Round 1, No. 29 overall: Cole Strange, OG, Chattanooga

My take: Strange projects to start at left guard, and if he follows in the footsteps of 2005 first-rounder Logan Mankins (32nd) or 2016 third-rounder Joe Thuney (78th), this will be a solid pick that addresses one of the team’s obvious needs (albeit one created by trading veteran guard Shaq Mason). Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, a former New England scout, had identified Strange before the draft as an ideal Patriots fit. One question: Did the Patriots overdraft him? Strange was viewed by some draft analysts as a second- or third-round pick … which was actually what was said about Mankins back in 2005.

Starting O-line: The Patriots’ top offensive line projects as left tackle Isaiah Wynn, Strange at left guard, center David Andrews, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Trent Brown. That assumes, of course, that Strange quickly adapts to the system.

Cornerback regrets? After starting cornerback J.C. Jackson departed in free agency, the Patriots had a chance to draft his replacement at No. 21 overall — Washington’s Trent McDuffie — who wasn’t projected to be available at that point by many draft analysts. But they instead followed through on a trade, moving back to No. 29 and picking up third-round (94) and fourth-round picks (121). The Chiefs took McDuffie at No. 21 with the pick acquired from the Patriots. If he goes on to become a shutdown corner, that could hurt from a New England perspective.

What’s next: The Patriots have 10 more picks in the draft, headlined by a second-rounder (54th), two third-rounders (85, 94) and two fourth-rounders (121, 127). Bill Belichick has now made an NFL-high 84 draft-day trades in his Patriots tenure, and that number figures to increase over the next two days. Belichick said at the team’s season-ticket member draft party that this is a deep draft, all the way into the later rounds.

MIAMI — While most NFL teams will spend Thursday night figuring out which elite prospect they want to take a chance on in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN app), the Miami Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier will probably be watching highlights of receiver Tyreek Hill somewhere inside the Baptist Health Traning Complex.

At least, that’s what Grier laughingly said he’d be doing after trading Miami’s picks in the first round, second round, and fourth round for Hill back in March. The Dolphins now have the least draft capital in the league with just four picks: No. 102 (third round), No. 125 (fourth), No. 224 (seventh) and No. 247 (seventh).

Despite owning so few selections, Grier said he and his staff haven’t altered anything about their preparation.

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“You never know when opportunities arise to do something,” he said. “If you haven’t done your work just because you don’t pick until 102, it could end up hurting you when you don’t have all the information if those opportunities arise. So for us, we had guys who were out at all pro days. Coaches were out. Coaches were doing private workouts.

“So for us, it’s been full steam ahead. The personnel staff has done a tremendous job and the coaching staff — Mike (McDaniel) and the coaching staff — these guys enjoyed getting out and getting to meet players, bringing them in, so the private workout stuff has been exciting.”

Miami has completely revamped its offense this offseason, adding Hill and tackle Terron Armstead to address its two biggest holes. The Dolphins also added receiver Cedrick Wilson, offensive lineman Connor Williams, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds to further supplement the system McDaniel wants to run in his first year.

After strengthening their roster with some big additions this offseason, they are in the enviable position of being able to take the best player available this weekend. Still, the Dolphins have areas in which they can improve — namely inside linebacker and interior offensive line.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid said the decision to trade their first two picks for Hill was a no-brainer — especially since there should be opportunities to address those remaining needs on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7).

“I [would] look to target a center [at No. 102],” Reid said. “I think just getting some competition [for] Michael Deiter … would be really, really wise for them. Because I’m not sure if Deiter is going to be the athlete that they need at that center spot.”

Reid specifically listed Dylan Parham from Memphis and Cole Strange from Chattanooga as potential options for the Dolphins at No. 102.

Parham is a converted tight end who started all four years for Memphis at tackle and guard and fits McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme.

“He’s one that fits really, really well as far as what they want to do from a zone scheme or wide-zone scheme perspective,” Reid said. “He’s a really athletic type … also very powerful, too.”

Strange is projected as more of a fourth-round pick, although he wouldn’t be a stretch at No. 102, Reid said. He’s a guard who is a projected center in the NFL and caught Reid’s attention at the Senior Bowl this year.

Regardless, it’s likely Miami goes offensive line with at least one of its four picks considering how Grier feels about this year’s class.

“I think there’s some talent all the way through from the tackles, the guards, centers, all the way in through the [middle] rounds,” he said. “I think you can find some good, quality players. Everyone is always looking for the pass-rushers. I think there are some high-level rushers in this draft, and then at the end of the day, then it’ll be some projection. Guys that have some upside to work with.

“So I would say … offensive line to me, I think is the one really strong position in this draft.”

Reid mentioned linebackers Brandon Smith (Penn State) and Brian Asamoah (Oklahoma) as potential options in the fourth round.

Smith has great size (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) and ability but needs to improve his processing skills. It’s what Reid said is keeping him from being picked in the first or second round.

Asamoah is a strong tackler and athlete who Reid called a “wrecking ball” but is somewhat undersized (6-0, 226 pounds) for the position.

Beyond those positions of need, Reid said he would not be surprised if the Dolphins add a physical running back to complement their group of speedsters, such as Georgia’s Zamir White or Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — General manager Joe Schoen has stressed the New York Giants‘ multitude of needs every time he’s spoken publicly over the past month. He has insisted that will allow New York, which holds the No. 5 and No. 7 overall picks in the 2022 NFL draft, to take the best player available on Thursday in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN app).

Usually, those kinds of comments can be brushed off as typical GM speak, specifically during the pre-draft process. However, in this instance it really does seem to apply.

“I think where we are in our roster, there’s several needs,” Schoen said last week. “To put a finger on what exactly the biggest need is would be difficult. If you can find two really good football players at [Nos.] 5 and 7, that’s how we stacked the board. Let’s just throw need, whatever [the] perceived need is, out. Who are the best football players in this draft?”

That is only possible because the Giants have enough needs — at premium positions, no less — to fill their entire draft board. Offensive line, edge rusher and cornerback all could use an influx of talent. We can also add safety, tight end, running back and most likely, quarterback, to the list.

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Luckily for the Giants, the top of the draft is filled with players at most of those premium positions (sans quarterback). The top 10 could include two offensive tackles (likely three), four edge rushers and two cornerbacks.

It’s perfect for Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. It gives them options, even if multiple sources within the organization and around the league have insisted they want to land an offensive tackle at pick No. 5.

Wanting, however, doesn’t mean it needs to happen at all costs. In this case, it could depend on Alabama tackle Evan Neal. Discussions with sources over the past few months indicate he is the top offensive lineman on their board, ahead of Mississippi State’s Charles Cross.

Which brings us to what has become an annual exercise: providing a list of prospects who make sense for the Giants with an informed projection of the most likely to be selected by New York in the first round.

This process has produced pretty respectable results — in five of the past eight drafts the Giants’ scheduled first-round picks have appeared on this list. Twice they have been the projected pick — offensive lineman Ereck Flowers in 2015 and running back Saquon Barkley in 2018. The big whiffs came with New York’s picks in 2016 (cornerback Eli Apple at No. 10) and 2017 (tight end Evan Engram at No. 23). Last year was an outlier because the Giants traded back from No. 11 to No. 20.

So let’s take another crack at it. Here are the prospects most likely to be selected by the Giants at No. 5 and No. 7 overall on Thursday:

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Pick No. 5

OT Evan Neal (Alabama): It feels like a coin flip between Neal and Cross here, but Neal has a higher grade and fewer flaws to nitpick. The biggest question seems to be whether Neal or Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner will be selected at No. 3 by the Houston Texans. That is the pick to watch. But Neal makes a ton of sense for the Giants. You can plug him in at right tackle, where he played a season for Alabama. He’s strong, good in the run game, and moves well for his size (6-foot-7, 337 pounds).

2. CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (Cincinnati): Another player whom sources have said the Giants are really high on. Gardner is widely considered the best and safest cornerback in the draft. Again, this marries need and evaluation. New York needs to add to its secondary, especially if top cornerback James Bradberry is traded this weekend, and Gardner is a strong option. He didn’t allow a single touchdown reception in three seasons for the Bearcats.

3. OT Charles Cross (Mississippi State): It’s too hard to ignore all the smoke connecting Cross to the Giants, especially considering sources have told ESPN there are people in the building who “love” him. There is also the seemingly ideal fit in Daboll’s offense thanks to his pass-blocking prowess. However, at one point this offseason there was a belief among some in the organization that he was more of a mid-first-round pick. To be selected at No. 5 seems like quite the jump, but the fit makes sense. “Athletically, he’s got everything you need,” a scout said. “Best pure pass-protector in the draft,” offensive line consultant Duke Manyweather added. The Giants need to keep quarterback Daniel Jones upright and Cross would certainly help.

4. Ikem Ekwonu (NC State): Here we are back at offensive tackle with a third option. Ekwonu is ranked the lowest of the three tackles here because he likely has the best chance of the tackles to be selected in the top four picks and isn’t an ideal fit. He’s more of an “elite run-blocker,” according to multiple evaluators. Still, several teams have Ekwonu rated as their top offensive lineman. It just doesn’t seem the Giants are one of them.

5. Travon Walker (Georgia): Had to include him on this list for pick No. 5 because he made it to the Giants in our annual NFL Nation mock draft. It’s hard to see that happening on Thursday though. Walker is considered the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick at the moment. There seems to be a really strong likelihood he goes in the top two selections. But a front-seven player with his ability, strength and versatility sure would fit well in defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s system.

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Pick No. 7

1. Gardner: The question with Gardner is whether he makes it this far. There has been some buzz about him going third overall to the Texans. If he makes it to No. 5, the Giants can likely wait to take him with their second pick because the Carolina Panthers will go in another direction after selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn at No. 8 overall last year. However, waiting to take Gardner at No. 7 could allow someone to trade up and snag him before the Giants. Risky? Sure, especially after the Philadelphia Eagles did it last year to get receiver DeVonta Smith one pick in front of New York. It’s the game of chicken that Schoen must ponder.

2. Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State): This is a name that has been gaining a lot of traction of late. He seems destined to be chosen in the top 10, so why not No. 7? The Giants have a massive need for a high-end edge rusher, and several evaluators believe his skills translate to the point that he will ultimately be the best pass-rusher in this draft.

3. Cross: Can the Giants wait until No. 7? Maybe. If at least two of the top three offensive tackles are available at five, Schoen can be patient and potentially still grab Cross at seven.

4. Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon): There has been a lot of talk about Thibodeaux’s motivation and his focus on his personal brand. That could create some hesitation to have him in New York, but the Giants have done a ton of work on him, and don’t appear turned off by that stuff. His perceived fall from the top five picks has more to do with potentially being a good (not great) player. Thibodeaux, however, does have the ideal first step and pass-rush production to make this a pick the Giants need to make. Schoen didn’t fly across the country to attend his pro day for no reason.

5. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU): He has all the skills, and some believe he will be the best cornerback in the draft. There is just a little too much risk for Stingley to be higher on this list. He hasn’t played at an elite level since his freshman year at LSU in 2019, and missed most of last season with a foot injury. But he’s a really good player with a high ceiling at a position of need whom the Giants like. Don’t completely count him out.