Dolphins Draft Talk!

[MikeO]

Well free agency is pretty much over for the Fins at this point (finding starters wise at least) and we are in April so time to look towards the draft as we now have a clear picture of what this Dolphins team.

Seems to me the "logical" options for Miami at #12 are OT and CB. With an outside shot at TE or WR. To me those are the ONLY 4 spots I see Miami going at 12.

Obviously if the Fins sign Winston, then cross OT off the list for Rd 1, he's the one guy still out there we could sign and will start for us. I still think at the end of the day Miami will move up. We have 5 picks of the first 82 picks but I also don't believe we will sit tight and take 5 players. A team like Cleveland who doesn't have a 2nd round pick is a prime TRADE partner, we can move up and they can get another 3rd or a 2nd and trade down.  I think the Brownies will be looking to move out of #6.

I could see Miami moving up to that spot to get Milliner or Johnson. IF the Fins stay at 12 I think guys like Eifert and Austin are in play as the other 2 are off the board at 12. As of today those are the 4 names I think Miami is looking at in Rd 1. With the caveat that if the right pass rusher falls Miami could also grab him.

[Pappy13]

I disagree. I don't see the Dolphins moving up at least not in the first round. In fact I think it's possible they could move down to get even more picks, perhaps even in next year's draft. I could see packaging a couple picks in round2 2 or 3 to perhaps move up in round 2 or perhaps the tail end of round 1 if someone is there they want, but not in round 1. There's no point. This draft is extremely weak at the top especially for what Miami needs.

[MikeO]

I disagree. I don't see the Dolphins moving up at least not in the first round. In fact I think it's possible they could move down to get even more picks, perhaps even in next year's draft. I could see packaging a couple picks in round2 2 or 3 to perhaps move up in round 2 or perhaps the tail end of round 1 if someone is there they want, but not in round 1. There's no point. This draft is extremely weak at the top especially for what Miami needs.

5 of the first 82 picks I dont see us trading down for more picks.  How many more picks do they need in the early rounds? At some point ya gotta take someone! (the last time we traded down we passed on Earl Thomas and ended up with Oddrick/Misi, didn't work out too well) (and I don't see us trading picks for next year as if we have a bad year Ireland won't be here next year, how does that help him)

The draft may be "weak" at the top but if there is a guy you really like or want, go get him! Especially when you have extra picks to play with. We will trade up before we trade down. Guess we will see in a few weeks!

[Cathal]

All I know is we better not take an OT at 12. Get the best player available that is a play maker. We can't keep investing first rounders into offensive linemen.

[MikeO]

All I know is we better not take an OT at 12. Get the best player available that is a play maker. We can't keep investing first rounders into offensive linemen.

OT is one of the biggest voids on this team right now though. Unless you want Martin/Jerry as your starting tackles this year

[Pappy13]

The draft may be "weak" at the top but if there is a guy you really like or want, go get him!

Sure, but is there one? Miami seems to be in the enviable position that they really don't NEED anyone right now. I think we could take the roster we have right now into training camp and be better off then this team has been in years. That allows you to sit back and let the draft play out and just makes moves when the timing is right. Trade down, trade up, get extra picks next year, whatever. Just let it play out. There is no need to really go after someone. Now if there WAS a guy that you just had to have, sure go get him, but I don't think this draft has that guy. There are very few guys that wow you and even the few that do don't wow your socks off. I see Miami playing it very calm and listening to a lot of offers from teams that are in more desperate straights then Miami is in.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking that Miami is set, I just think they don't really have any glaring weaknesses at this point. I guess you could argue that offensive tackle is a glaring weakness, but I really don't think it is. Miami could start the same offensive line that they finished the season with last year and that would be ok. Sure, I'd love to upgrade it, but even if they didn't it would be a decent line. If they do get a young stud OT and he plays up to his potential, offensive line will be one of the strengths of the team.

[Spider-Dan]

5 of the first 82 picks I dont see us trading down for more picks.  How many more picks do they need in the early rounds? At some point ya gotta take someone! (the last time we traded down we passed on Earl Thomas and ended up with Oddrick/Misi, didn't work out too well)

That's a rather skewed hindsight analysis of that pick.  Miami was in line to pick Dan Williams that year; it would have been highly questionable to spend a first-rounder on a DB one year after spending a first and a second on DBs.

You could have at least said that Miami passed on JPP (as he and Odrick are both DEs), but I think we both know JPP was not really the player Miami was coveting, either.  They were pretty hot and heavy after Williams, but didn't think he was worth a #12, and traded down hoping he would last.

P.S. As Miami ended up getting Reshad Jones 4 rounds later, I can live with their decision to pass on Thomas.

[MikeO]

Sure, but is there one? Miami seems to be in the enviable position that they really don't NEED anyone right now. I think we could take the roster we have right now into training camp and be better off then this team has been in years. That allows you to sit back and let the draft play out and just makes moves when the timing is right. Trade down, trade up, get extra picks next year, whatever. Just let it play out. There is no need to really go after someone. Now if there WAS a guy that you just had to have, sure go get him, but I don't think this draft has that guy. There are very few guys that wow you and even the few that do don't wow your socks off. I see Miami playing it very calm and listening to a lot of offers from teams that are in more desperate straights then Miami is in.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking that Miami is set, I just think they don't really have any glaring weaknesses at this point. I guess you could argue that offensive tackle is a glaring weakness, but I really don't think it is. Miami could start the same offensive line that they finished the season with last year and that would be ok. Sure, I'd love to upgrade it, but even if they didn't it would be a decent line. If they do get a young stud OT and he plays up to his potential, offensive line will be one of the strengths of the team.

1) Offensive Tackle right now is a glaring weakeness. There is no way they want to start Jon Jerry or Will Yeatman at RT next season. That is a last resort type of deal. Having to do it for the final month of the season when you are eliminated from the playoffs already, fine. Having to start a season with a player like that at RT, not ideal. And if one of those guys are the right tackle and we have Lance Louis coming off a major knee injury at RG....sorry, but that o-line sucks! It really does! That is a terrible o-line!!

2) There are a lot of quality guys to trade up for, Miliner, Fisher, Johnson, Jockel..etc. If Miami could package a couple picks to draft a day 1 starter at the top of rd 1 and still have extra picks in the early rounds its a no brainer. 

Unless the Fins trade for Albert or sign Winston  come hell or high water Miami is probably trading UP for one of those 3 tackles. I think its almost a foregone conclusion at this point.

[Dolphin-UK]

I think its almost a foregone conclusion at this point.

Way to clarify the statement :-)

Is there a significant jump between OTs which may go before our pick, and those expected to be availible at 12? (I don't know, we don't get any decent NFL coverage over here!) Is there a "sure fire" pick sitting there to be had if we trade?

Unless there is a sure fire pick availible I'd rather draft more players, you can assemble a good starting 22 but ultimately you only make a champonship calibre team but having a deep 53 man roster and that is done through the draft.

[MikeO]

Way to clarify the statement :-)

Is there a significant jump between OTs which may go before our pick, and those expected to be availible at 12? (I don't know, we don't get any decent NFL coverage over here!) Is there a "sure fire" pick sitting there to be had if we trade?

Odds are there won't be an OT at #12 worth taking. There are 3 sure fire OT's to go in the Top 10 then there is a big drop off

[Landshark]

Odds are there won't be an OT at #12 worth taking. There are 3 sure fire OT's to go in the Top 10 then there is a big drop off

Then you don't take one at 12.  Grab Austin or Patterson or Rhodes and go from there.  Don't give up your draft picks you worked so hard to stockpile.

I'm sick of drafting offensive linemen at the top round.

[MikeO]

Then you don't take one at 12.  Grab Austin or Patterson or Rhodes and go from there.  Don't give up your draft picks you worked so hard to stockpile.

I'm sick of drafting offensive linemen at the top round.

You view it as "giving up draft picks", which is foolish. They are trying to get the BEST players available to help the team win! I am sorry if they only have to give up a 3rd to move up into the Top 5 or 6 to get a stud LT, that's smart. And they will still have multiple picks in Rd 2 and a 3rd rounder.

And of course come Week 1 when our opponent rushes past our Right Tackle and sacks Tannehill on a 3rd down in the 1st quarter you will be on this site cursing and bitching that Irleand is clueless for not addressing the offensive tackle position in a serious way.   

[Cathal]

At #12 we should be taking the best play maker available. I don't think the Offensive Line will be that bad going into next year. The team needs to draft play makers with their high picks, not into OTs. You can pick up OTs in later rounds.

[MikeO]

Perfect world, give up a 2nd rounder this year (with a 4th or 5th next year) for Brandon Albert and then draft Austin or Eifert at #12. That's what I would do.

But this o-line is a mess right now and OT needs to be addressed at #12 if they don't trade for Winston or draft Albert

[MikeO]

For all of you guys who don't want to trade away any picks you do realize the guy making the picks has drafted guys in Rounds 2 and 3 like Michael Egnew, Pat White, Patrick Turner, Koa Misi, Philip Merling, Chad Henne, Jon Jerry, Daniel Thomas, Sean Smith. Ireland's track record in Rd 2 and 3 is kinda crappy. So I wouldn't hold onto those picks like gold.