The one thing you can be sure of is the Miami Dolphins won’t be taking a wide receiver, quarterback or running back with their first pick in the NFL Draft. If that is a given, then all bets are off as to which direction this team moves. Chris Grier, the team’s general manager, and head coach Adam Gase will have a tough decision to make. If you look at mock drafts across the board, there is no unanimous decision on who will hear their name called with the 22nd pick. You can be sure, however, it will be for need. The Dolphins aren’t quite in a position to have the kind of luxury to pick for depth.
Close, but not close enough.
“Defense, defense, defense! Did I mention defense? Outside linebacker, cornerback, edge pass rusher, safety — Miami needs ’em all,” writes Greg Cote of the Miami Herald. I see a theme here. Miami should use the majority of their picks to shore up that side of the ball. Don’t be surprised though if an offensive player or two, especially on the line, earns a ticket to south Florida.
This could be the year, the Dolphins draft players that not only get them to the playoffs but help this team travel deep in the post season.
Here are five players the Dolphins should consider with their first pick in the NFL Draft.
David Njoku, Tight End, Miami – Not necessarily an immediate need, but he does give Miami another weapon in the offense. A double tight end set with Julius Thomas could be downright scary. Njoku will be the second tight end chosen after OJ Howard.
Taco Charlton, Defensive End, Michigan – I had him mocked to the ‘Phins before and still think if he gets past Detroit, this could be the pick. Charlton is a solid pass rusher and a good tackler. He could play with a hand down on the line or standing up as an edge linebacker. The Dolphins need to start planning for life without Cam Wake.
Forest Lamp, Guard, Western Kentucky – Lamp will be a first round pick, possibly even before the Dolphins make a selection. While the team has other needs, finding interior linemen to help with running blocking is crucial. Lamp may not have played against the best in college football, but he is the best guard prospect in this draft.
Jarrad Davis, Linebacker, Florida – An inside linebacker who has speed and size. Davis won’t be Zach Thomas, but at 6-foot-1 and 238 pounds he fills a need. Davis is strong enough to cover a tight end across the middle or run down a running back in open space.
Reuben Foster, Linebacker, Alabama – The problem with this pick is the unlikelihood of it happening. Then comes the question of why did Foster fall this far. A sure-fire top 10 pick with a question about his character would have to take a huge tumble to make this happen.