The Dolphins should take a WR in the 1st round of the draft.

[Pappy13]

Here's why...it's the best possible choice to complement this year's pick Ryan Tannehill. This whole year has been about 1 thing, the development of Ryan Tannehill. Next year the whole year should be about 1 thing, putting Ryan Tannehill in the best possible position to succeed. The best way to do that is to give him as many weapons as possible. If you have to trade down to pick a WR, do it. Even if you have to reach for a WR, do it. The number 1 best way to ensure that this year's number 1 pick and this whole year is a complete waste of time is to NOT give Tannehill another offensive weapon to throw to next year. The biggest problem on this team is the offense and the biggest reason why is the lack of playmakers on offense.

I've seen a lot people advocate getting a WR in free agency, but I just don't see it. All the WR's that are gonna be available that could be a #1 their best years are behind them. They may have been #1 receivers at one time in their career, but they just aren't anymore. If they were, the team they are with now wouldn't let them go, it's as simple as that. The best way to get a #1 WR for this team is to draft a WR in the first round. If you get the right one he can help your team as a rookie even if it takes a while to become your #1. Even if he's a decent #2 that will help this team and allow Bess to move back into the slot where he really should be.

If you want to help this team in free agency, go after a TE. TE's are hard to find in the draft, but you can get one through free agency. Sign Finley if he's available. Finley and a first round WR would give Tannehill the weapons he needs even if it takes a while for that WR to really produce. That is the best possible way to get this offense moving in the right direction and getting the offense moving in the right direction is the best possible way to get this franchise moving in the right direction. Everything else is good enough as is to win in the NFL, take a WR and hope you pick the right one. just like you did with Tannehill last year. If you don't you risk both of the picks going for naught.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[Spider-Dan]

No good WR worthy of a first-round pick in the draft, plenty of quality WRs entering free agency.  I could not disagree more with your post.

The last thing this team needs is to waste a first-round pick on another desperate reach at WR like the Ginn Family.

[Brian Fein]

They need a speedy and athletic receiver in the Calvin Johnson mold. A playmaker with explosive ability.

From all I've read, that guy doesn't exist this year.

I could see them bringing in a few more free agents, and drafting a guy or two in the middle rounds. Whoever they pick in their first three picks need to be immediate starters.

[Spider-Dan]

I would just like to point out one more thing when it comes to Ireland and receivers:

He has been a complete and total failure in this regard.

The only decent receivers on the team are Hartline (drafted in 2009, after Patrick Turner, mind you) and Bess (undrafted in 2008).  Everyone else has just sucked.  So I am not at all willing to bet Miami's future on Ireland's ability to draft a WR, least of all in the first round.

[Sunstroke]

I'm 100% with Spider on this one...no value in drafting a second round caliber WR in the middle of round one.

They need a speedy and athletic receiver in the Calvin Johnson mold. A playmaker with explosive ability.

Receivers currently in the NFL in the Calvin Johnson Mode

1) Calvin Johnson
2) Nope...that's it

[Pappy13]

Some WR's will emerge. They always do after the combine.

[TonyB0D]

Some WR's will emerge. They always do after the combine.

yeah, cuz running a 4.2 at the combine after the season is over is the same as proven gameday production. 

the 1 year we can actually draft a decent WR and there arent any :-(

[EKnight]

yeah, cuz running a 4.2 at the combine after the season is over is the same as proven gameday production. 

the 1 year we can actually draft a decent WR and there arent any :-(

They could have made a play for Blackmon last year, they could have made a deal to move up- what? 2 spots? The year they drafted Pouncey, they passed on Titus Young and Torrey Smith. The year before THAT, they actually traded BACk to pass on Demaryius Thomas and draft Odrick instead. WTF? Thomas is a beast! The year before THAT they left Hakeem Nicks on the board to take Davis. I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, but they've been in a position to draft a #1 or very good #2 WR (couple of Pro Bowlers in there), and they just suck at drafting WRs (to SpiderDan's point in the Marshall thread). -EK

[Phishfan]

Even if you have to reach for a WR, do it.

I love your flexibility. A statement like this leads me to beleive you would rather grab another Ted Ginn just so you can say it was done in the first round.

[CF DolFan]

The Dolphins should be searching Russia, Canada, China or the freaking moon to get receivers. I don't care what round they come in that is our number one need. No doubt about it. If we took a receiver in every round it wouldn't bother me at this point.

[Landshark]

They could have made a play for Blackmon last year, they could have made a deal to move up- what? 2 spots? The year they drafted Pouncey, they passed on Titus Young and Torrey Smith. The year before THAT, they actually traded BACk to pass on Demaryius Thomas and draft Odrick instead. WTF? Thomas is a beast! The year before THAT they left Hakeem Nicks on the board to take Davis. I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, but they've been in a position to draft a #1 or very good #2 WR (couple of Pro Bowlers in there), and they just suck at drafting WRs (to SpiderDan's point in the Marshall thread). -EK

The last two receivers taken high by the Dolphins were Ted "Drop It Like It's Hot" Ginn, Chris "Paragon of Inconsistency" Chambers, and Yatil "China Doll" Green. 

[Pappy13]

I love your flexibility. A statement like this leads me to beleive you would rather grab another Ted Ginn just so you can say it was done in the first round.

No, I'd rather take a CHANCE on a WR then take a DE that we don't really need. They chose Olivier Vernon in the 3rd round last year to help Wake and I saw some good stuff from him earlier in the year. I say give him a chance to be the DE on the other side of Wake and take a chance on the best WR you can find even if you don't think he's necessarily a high first round draft choice. They haven't taken a high round WR since Ginn. You can't let that mistake prevent you from trying again. Miami would have made a mistake in my opinion passing on Tannehill just because Pat White and Henne didn't pan out and Tannehill was considered a reach at #8. It would also be a mistake to pass on perhaps the best WR in THIS draft just because Ginn was a bust.

Last year Miami needed a QB and they took a chance and so far, so good. Now they need to give him some weapons, so take a chance on doing that even if it's not a sure bet.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[Spider-Dan]

Well, here's the first problem with your logic:  Tannehill was not a reach at #8.  He had a better scouting grade than Cam Newton did.

edit: In fact, for context, here's the scouting grades for all first-round QBs since 2005 (all from ESPN):

2012:
(1) A. Luck- 99
(2) R. Griffin- 97
(8) R. Tannehill- 94
(22) B. Weeden- 86

2011:
(1) C. Newton- 93
(8) J. Locker- 90
(10) B. Gabbert- 96
(12) C. Ponder- 85

2010:
(1) S. Bradford- 97
(25) T. Tebow- 78

2009:
(1) M. Stafford- 96
(5) M. Sanchez- 95
(17) J. Freeman- 85

2008:
(1) M. Ryan- 98
(18) J. Flacco- 89

2007:
(1) J. Russell- 98
(22) B. Quinn- 97

2006:
(3) V. Young- 97
(11) J. Cutler- 96

2005:
(1) A. Smith- 98
(22) A. Rodgers- 99
(25) J. Campbell- 86

Notwithstanding the fact that some of these grades look ridiculous in hindsight, Tannehill's value at #8 was right about where it should be.

[Pappy13]

Well, here's the first problem with your logic:  Tannehill was not a reach at #8.  He had a better scout rating than Cam Newton did.

There were a LOT of folks who didn't believe that back when Miami was picking him and that's precisely my point.  A WR is gonna emerge as the top WR. I doubt very seriously that he's going to be considered a 2nd round talent, maybe a late first round talent or maybe a middle first round talent, so position yourself to get him (if you think he's the best WR in the draft.) My point is that I think they should target the WR they think is the best they can get and then figure out where to take him. If that's in the middle of the first round even if others think he's a late 1st or early 2nd, take a chance and take him. We have had years of taking the "safe" picks and guess what, we have one of the least "talented" teams in the NFL. Just because some picks that were "bang or bust" have turned out bust doesn't mean that philosophy is flawed, it just means you haven't hit it big yet. The "bang or bust" route requires repeated attempts. Some will fail. Hopefully some won't.

They can still come back and take a "safe" pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and fill in some of those other holes, but the biggest need is on the offense, so they shouldn't pass on the offense just because there isn't a surefire player there to take.

[Landshark]

Here's the scouting grades for all first-round QBs since 2005 (all from ESPN):

2007:
(1) J. Russell- 98
(22) B. Quinn- 97

YIKES!!!!!!