MIAMI — By the numbers, this week marks the 90th NFL draft, the 60th for the Miami Dolphins and my 34th annual official Miami Herald mock draft. I did not invent the mock draft — gridiron historians credit late super-nerd Joel Buchsbaum for doing that circa late-1970s and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. for bringing it to the forefront — but I was on the early wave.

Draft Day, the NFL’s offseason Super Bowl, is the glorious intersection of pro and college football, America’s two favorite sports. It also is a national holiday for media and fans to revel in their own mock drafts even though the whole thing is an exercise in guesswork disguised as research and inside intel.

I like to compare my results with King Kiper’s for laughs because Junior makes it a year-round endeavor with extensive analysis and film study, while, for me, it’s a swoop-in guess-bomb — a mock-ery! My idea of film study the past month was binge-watching “Seinfeld” reruns. Others do multiple mocks or entire seven-round mocks that incorporate draft-night trades.

Folly! I do one mock draft only, first round only, and do not even pretend to predict draft-night trades. I leave the tortured analysis and overthinking to others. I simply cross-reference each team’s needs with best available players and let the darts fly. Astoundingly, that works pretty well.

The past eight years my mock drafts have totaled 49 first-round bull’s-eyes or Exactos: Exact player to exact team or in exact draft order, including a whopping nine last year (more than Kiper). Overall last year I correctly had 26 of 32 first-round selections.

I’m back on the clock Thursday night from Green Bay and will have a live ongoing report card on how I’m doing on this year 1-through-32 including the Dolphins’ selection at No. 13.

Super Bonus Draft Facts are interspersed as always.

Are we ready? Let’s mock!

— 1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami — Titans spent their offseason bolstering the offensive line to protect their franchise arm, knowing Will Levis isn’t that guy. Ward, the one-year Hurricanes record-breaker, might be. That’s no certainty in a so-so year at the position, but Ward is this draft’s best bet for a QB-starving team. He’ll be The U’s third No. 1 overall pick, after QB Vinny Testaverde in 1987 and DT Russell Maryland in 1991.

— 2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado — Hunter insists on being a two-way star in the pros. Browns would be fine with a star on one side of the ball and occasional weapon on the other. As much as Cleveland needs a QB and might otherwise consider his Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders, Hunter is this draft’s overall top prospect and too good to pass on here.

— 3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State — NYG also could use a QB, though less so since the stop-gap signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and Sanders, an imperfect prospect, would be a reach/risk here. Giants have done a ton of due diligence on Sanders but I see them opting for this proven sackman to be the centerpiece on D and make what is a decent edge-rush group scary good.

— 4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU — There are two higher-rated tackles on some draft boards (thanks to the obsession with stuff like arm length/wingspan), but Patriots are leaning Campbell as the foundational left tackle to help young Drake Maye be the QB they hope he will become.

— 5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan — Graham is that rare combo of best available athlete left on most draft boards and also filling Jax’s position of direst need. As much as Trevor Lawrence could use some help as his once-bright star flickers a bit, the Jags must prioritize defense.

— 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State — LV had the league’s worst run average last year, and a big ground game tops Pete Carroll’s wish list. And — after the massive season Saquon Barkley had and the continuing wonder of Derrick Henry — the once-devalued running back is in again in the NFL.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: This year’s draft is being held in Green Bay for the first time ever, and the first time in Wisconsin since Milwaukee hosted in 1940, which coincidentally was Tom Brady’s rookie year. Green Bay is famous for the Frozen Tundra and snow-covered Cheesehead hats, but fear not. The average April temps there range from 50s to 30s, so instead of being frozen, fans attending the draft from around the country will merely be uncomfortably cold.

— 7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri — Line help is the Jets’ top need as team’s commitment to new QB Justin Fields seems solid and real (at least publicly). A wideout here to pair with Garrett Wilson also should tempt here, as well as a TE such as Michigan’s Colston Loveland. But NYJ’s interest in Membou is undisguised.

— 8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia — No NFL defense was worse than Carolina’s last year, and Walker is an arrow at the heart of the problem. Another toy for Bryce Young also is needed, but no need exceeds an improved D.

— 9. New Orleans Saints: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado — Doubts about aging Derek Carr are magnified by his shoulder issues, and Spencer Rattler (despite the glorious surname) is no franchise QB. Saints have more pressing needs they could fill with more certainty of result, but Sanders’ upside is too big to ignore. N’Awlins loves Jaxson Dart (see pick 21), but that would be a big reach here, so see Cajuns making Sanders their first No. 1 pick QB since Archie Manning in 1971.

— 10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan — Bears bolstered their O-line in free agency so now target a weapon to increase the chances QB Caleb Williams will surge in Year 2 after a so-so rookie year. Loveland is this draft’s top-rated TE.

— 11. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas — Third tackle to go but Banks is top-rated one by some draft boards and would be solid heir to aging star Trent Williams. If Niners go D an edge guy such as Marshall’s Mike Green would fit.

— 12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona — Jerry Jones wants help for Dak Prescott to pair with CeeDee Lamb, and McMillan is this draft’s top wideout. But would probably scoop up RB Jeanty instead in unlikely event he slipped to 12.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: The Miami Dolphins (picking next) are asking for media decorum at this week’s draft after a fight ensued last year when a producer for Miami sports radio station 560 WQAM and a podcaster for the Miami Herald came to blows about who would have the prime location for a live remote outside the draft room.

— 13. Miami Dolphins: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan — Miami has several needs as it seemingly lurches toward rebuild mode off an 8-9 year, with OT Terron Armstead retired, S Jevon Holland departed in free agency and CB Jalen Ramsey on the trade block. Coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier need to hit big with this top pick as they face a season in which their jobs are both at risk. Other possibilities for Fins here, if available, should include: Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Alabama OG Tyler Booker, South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori, Texas CB Jahdae Barron and Ole Miss D-lineman Walter Nolen. But with corner and guard the most glaring needs, this is a better draft for CBs than OGs, and I’m told Miami has Johnson rated higher than Barron on its big board — though Barron is higher-ranked by many others. Johnson’s less-than-ideal speed is better suited to zone coverage, yet Fins like his size and start-now readiness. Miami’s cornerback room will be more desperate for starters than at guard on depth chart assuming Ramsey is dealt. And being weak in the secondary in today’s NFL is sort of not a smart business model.

— 14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State — Indy’s starting QB will be either Anthony Richardson or (if really desperate) Daniel Jones. In either case: Helllp! Warren, one of two 1R-graded TEs, will bring that boost.

— 15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall — Green led all of FBS with 17 sacks last year. Falcons had the fewest in NFL last year. So this is a lesson in it being sometimes best to not overthink a pick.

— 16. Arizona Cardinals: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas — Corner was peripheral among Zona’s top needs, but Barron dropping this far is too good to look past. Many draft boards had him a top-10 prospect.

— 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia— Joe Burrow: Really good. Cincy’s defense: Really bad. Solution: A D-heavy draft. Williams goosing the pass rush will get that ball rolling.

— 18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama — Hawks are desperate for interior blocking help, and Booker is draft’s best still available at that skill. If Dolphins eschewed corner for guard, this could have been their guy at 13.

— 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama — Bucs need help just about everywhere on defense, and Campbell is the best in the middle in a LB-weak draft.

— 20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina — A big ground game will take some pressure off of young QB Bo Nix, and coach Sean Payton sees in Hampton what he had in Alvin Kamara in New Orleans.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: The Dolphins’ official Watch Party on Thursday night is not being held at the stadium this year but at a restaurant/bar in Doral, because a mid-round draft selection following an 8-9 season does not scream “high anticipation.” Fan activities will include alumni and mascot appearances and a seance to make ethereal contact with the late Dolfan Denny.

— 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss — This seemed to be Aaron Rodgers’ last landing spot still available to him to start in ‘25 at age 41, but he continues wavering, undecided and hinting retirement. Steelers can’t afford to risk waiting him out — not when your current options are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. The exquisitely named Dart is the best arm still left in this draft.

— 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas — Bolts’ attack got more ground-first under Jim Harbaugh, but word is he wants to open things up a bit more for Justin Herbert.

— 23. Green Bay Packers: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee — Let’s see how popular this pick is with Cheeseheads as draft-host Green Bay makes its first selection. Pack could also look to score a corner or WR here.

— 24. Minnesota Vikings: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss — Another pairing in which best-available-left-at-position and position of greatest need are in harmony and (hopefully) live happily ever after.

— 25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State — Texans traded fixture LT Laremy Tunsil, and see Simmons as a step-right-in guy to help C.J. Stroud rebound from a sophomore slump and regain his rookie form.

— 26. Los Angeles Rams: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky — With all the top O-linemen gone this late in first round, LAR should be thinking defense, and Hairston is a better prospect than any LB still available.

(*) Super Bonus Draft Fact: Aaron Rodgers remains an unemployed free agent as we write this, teetering between diminishing opportunities to sign and de facto forced retirement. Aaron is really weird, like, conspiracy-believing, Ayahuasca-smokin’ strange. Or ‘How NFL great Aaron Rodgers lost touch with reality,’ as a Rolling Stone headline said in 2024. Rodgers’ predicament is all of those things ... AND being 41.

— 27. Baltimore Ravens: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina — Lamar Jackson piloted NFL’s third-highest-scoring offense last year. John Harbaugh is a defense-first coach and scores top-rated athlete still available in Emmanwori.

— 28. Detroit Lions: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M — For Super Bowl-aspiring Lions, Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a season-ending broken leg and team has yet to re-sign Za’Darius Smith. So a pass rusher is logical here and Stewart (from Miami Gardens Pace High) is best left. He’s a specimen at 6-5 yet had only 4 1/2 total sacks in college, but Detroit will see the upside.

— 29. Washington Commanders: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M — It’s back-to-back in first round for Aggies edge guys. Scourton is smaller and not the scouts’ eye-candy Stewart is but grades out about as high in scouting profiles and potential.

— 30. Buffalo Bills: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss — Uber-productive senior year brought first-team All-America and All-SEC honors, and Nolen fits a position Buffs are looking to beef up.

— 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri — Not a position of urgent/priority need — the best teams rarely have those — but, post-Tyreek Hill and with aging Travis Swift er Kelce in decline, Patrick Mahomes could use some help. And Burden grades as the best wideout still on the board.

— 32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia — One of only two 1R-graded pure safeties in this draft, Starks fills a Birds need-area and comes as a three-year starter at highest level of college competition.

So, how did we do? Join us Thursday night as we offer a live, as-it-happens report card on how our mock is faring.

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