Ohiophinphan

It has arrived at that time just before the draft when I hit the point of the "paralysis of analysis".

"RoninFin4 wrote:

Just based on some intel I've heard, I think IF Miami move up, it's for Sonny Styles, not Caleb Downs. If that doesn't happen...

I think IF Caleb Downs is at 11, he's the pick.

If neither of the first two things happen, then I think it's between a group of: Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling, Keldric Faulk, Mansoor Delane, or a trade down. Intentionally leaving Mauigoa off this list; doubt he's still on the board.

Wild-card: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

EMW is my wished for player in this draft. That is a locational bias since I have seen more of him coming out of Toledo. Nothing scientific about that. My expectation is that he will go in the mid to late teens. So, a trade down to that area for an additional second day pick would be my dream scenario! Likely? NO, but I can hope!

"Lee2000 wrote:

I lost one of my best friends to kidney failure on Thursday. The funeral may occur on Saturday of the draft. I will still manage the UDFA list but may be a little slower than usual. It will give me a distraction for a tuff day.

First and foremost, my deepest condolences on the loss of your friend. Y'all have been added to my prayer list. Secondly though, let me commend to you the distraction of the community here in your grief. When my first wife was ill and after her death, this place brought me the comfort of escape within a community who mostly I will never meet but have been friends with for over 25 years! During my heart issues two years ago, those feelings got reinforced.
Be in the moment with your friend's family, with your own, and within yourself and your grief. Help with the UDFA thread as you can and as you wish. And know you go not only with my prayers, but I can say without hesitation or doubt, the thoughts and prayers of all here! God's best!

AJ Epenesa, formerly of the Bills, visited with the Phins today. He was a second-round pick in 2020 and has been a depth/rotational his whole career. An odd note, he signed with the Browns at the beginning of free agency, but they backed out after he took their physical. The problem with the doctor's report has not been publicly announced. I suspect any conversation today included a med check.

"Claymore95 wrote:

....Of course, if Makai is drafted by the Dolphins, he will probably turn out to be a real Lemon :laughy:
*That might just be British slang so, if it is and it isn't clear to this board, a Lemon is usually used to describe a car that has serious issues that aren't divulged when sold!

"invid wrote:

"Pennsylvania's Lemon Law protects buyers of new, personal-use vehicles (including leased cars) that develop significant defects within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles." Had to research this a year or two ago because of a new used Subaru Forester my wife bought that... made our lives hell for a couple weeks. We know the term in the US.

"Claymore95 wrote:

Thanks. Sometimes I type a word or saying out and then wonder if it's just used in the UK or whether it's just one we took from elsewhere...some would say the old British Empire was infamous for that :laughy:

"The English and Americans are two peoples divided by a common language." Whether it was Oscar Wilde or George Bernard Shaw, it is still the truth!

Many so-called draft pundits spend a lot of time on rising prospects. Especially those rising due to the underwear Olympics. I remember JJ focused on players who had been higher rated based on their actual game play but were falling by draft time. It was not a perfect system, but it got us Jason Taylor. I still prefer putting my trust in game films.

Ted Ginn is back in the news...and not in a good way.

Ex-NFL WR Ted Ginn Jr. charged with DWI in Texas - ESPN

He made small headlines up here in Ohio when he signed to be the HC of the UFL's Columbus franchise. Missing a game due to a DWI arrest is not a good look for a league which barely gets noticed anyway.

One of the Dolphins' better success stories in 2025 is officially headed elsewhere - but Miami may still benefit from his departure

Following up on his visit to SF, it appears Jones is signing with the 49'ers. The above article does mention a silver lining perhaps...if he signs for enough money (the thinking is around $4mil) we could get a comp pick next year. The article also disclosed something I had not noticed before, the Lions' signing of Borom already lines us up for a 7th round comp next season. That is of course predicated on Borom getting enough snaps, though that number is not yet disclosed.

"Ohio Fanatic wrote:

fifth rounder is a no brainer for musgrave. but he's at end of contract, so depends on what he's looking for in new contract

If the price is truly a fifth rounder, then I would take the deal immediately even if its only for a one year "rental". We have done well in the fifth round in the past, but Musgrave is a proven commodity at a position of need.

Free agent CB Jack Jones visits the 49ers - NBC Sports

I know I am in minority here but I had hoped we would retain him.

Just picked up a rule change coming out of the owners meeting. Players on the Reserve/PUP list begin a 21-day practice window after the club's second game. In the past the 21-day window didn't start until the team's fourth game after being put on the list. That often caused players to miss an additional week or more as they geared up in practice. This change should allow players to miss only the mandatory four weeks for minor injuries.

"joeydolfan wrote:

https://x.com/i/web/status/2041350842977022429

Interesting, wonder how much interest is there.

Is there any way we can afford him? Even on a one-year prove-it contract? His resume suggests a lot more than that doesn't it?

Please allow me a little off-topic excursus. I am fully back online after some interruptions. You see a tornado hit my town on Saturday and passed less than a quarter mile from my home. It was an EF-1, 95 MPH. Ripped up lots of trees, power lines, roof-top air conditioners, and the two tallest church steeples in town. We are an old railroad town, so the sound of freight trains is quite familiar and yes, that's what a tornado sounds like! Power was out and I lost wi-fi and satTV. I got some stuff back yesterday but didn't get it all back until this Noon. It was the second tornado to hit our county within the past week. One last Tuesday and then Saturday. Blessedly, there were no fatalities, in fact no serious injuries. "Stuff" can be repaired or replaced. Other congregations made space for Easter services for those with damaged buildings. I must admit, it's taken until today for the adrenalin levels in my blood to get back to normal.

Thanks for letting me vent and for listening!

In our collective interest in the upcoming draft, let us not forget this week begins our off-season program.
First day: April 7
Voluntary minicamp: April 21-23
OTA offseason workouts: May 18-19, May 21, May 26-27, May 29, June 8-9, June 11
Mandatory minicamp: June 2-4

Only a few teams have a voluntary minicamp set for just before the draft. Makes me think we could see some cuts coming out of that and allowing for more UDFA's to be signed. We currently have 73 players under contract according to the roster on the official website. With 11 draft picks that would give us room for only a half dozen undrafted rookies. I am guessing two or three guys will be out of a job after April 23, maybe even a few more, making room for new prospects. While the camp is "voluntary" there is no way I would miss it or any off-season work, especially if I were one of the many one-year contract veterans trying to make a comeback or at least stick in the league. By my count the only five guys we have who are truly proven, quality NFL starters are Brewer, Paul, Achane, Sieler, and Brooks. A few others by virtue of their recent draft status or recent contract signings are also fairly safe but probably 50-55+ are fighting hard to get/keep a job come fall.

"invid wrote:

Why not?

I don't know my fellow Buckeye's answer but for me the answer is; until we get the oline fixed, WR's are a luxury. I think there are Olinemen going to be available at 11 who will serve us better, in the long term, than even the best WR at this point in our re-boot. You, and others, are free to disagree with me but for this draft, that's my opinion.

"invid wrote:

Can I make a recommendation to start a new thread on draft day? Will indicate a break in the April run-up and be easier to keep track of, even though it's technically still in April.

I think that's a good idea but I will be on vacation with limited online access/time. Anyone willing to start it and manage it? I've reached out to Lee2000 in hopes he will again start/manage a UDFA thread so a separate draft time thread seems like a good idea.

Here is the new monthly thread. It is of course, draft month and the signings of UDFA's. Lots of action to be had. The old thread will remain open but unstickied. Go Phins!

I am about to start the April thread. Certainly, March was crazy with a far more active free agency than I (and likely many of you) expected. April brings the draft and all of its attendant drama. Go Phins!

"Boik14 wrote:

Thank god. :ffic:

I have!!!

Lee, Den; Thanks for putting into words what I have been trying to get my head around. As one of the "old-timers" here, I tend to look at things from a long term, historical perspective.
In the 1997 draft, JJ had a first, a second, and (like this year) 4 thirds. In the second he got Sam Madison and with our own pick in the third he nabbed Jason Taylor. Two of the best Dolphins to ever wear the uniform. But right after that draft most of the talk was about the number one pick that year, Yatil Green. In his first practice he exploded a knee, tearing muscles, ligaments, and just about everything else. The next camp he did it again! After three years and a total of 10 surgeries on his right knee, he was cut by the Dolphins shortly after the 1999 season ended.
Looking at the other three third rounders, all comp picks, we got a competent, starting OLB in Derrick Rodgers and two busts, Olineman Brent Smith and LB Ronnie Ward. Thus, we got two elites, one solid starter, and three goose eggs. While I would love to get two elites from this coming draft, I sure hope we do better than 50% with the first 7 out of the top 95!
Just a memory for perspective.

O and for the record, our longest serving Phin from that draft was Ed Perry. Drafted as a TE, he served as our LS 'til '04.