No, I'm not going to take 11 of the hottest models/actresses... we are talking football, specifically Dolphins' football and since the NFL draft is just a few days away, I figured it was time to produce my ultimate mock scenario. Now I love analyzing trades and seeing which side got the better of whom, but for the purposes of this mock, I'm not going to predict any Dolphins' trades. So, here we go: Prelude: sign Eric Winston to be our right tackle at some point in the near future, BEFORE the draft. He wants to be a Dolphin. His agent wants him to be a Dolphin. Seriously, what is the hold up here? Did he leave trash on Joe Philbin's lawn? Having said this, now that we've signed Winston.. Do not continue this Branden Albert charade any longer. Let KC burn themselves. It's not our fault they franchise tagged him in a left tackle heavy draft at the top AND THEN selected a better LT at #1 overall. Furthermore, let Jonathon Martin play left tackle. It's his more natural position. He played LT against the Pats and 49ers last year, his first two starts at LT in the NFL, and we, as a team, came close to winning both games (trailed by 7 points late into the 4th quarter) with an offense that is now clearly improved this offseason. 1.12 Xavier Rhodes, CB from Florida State. This has been the pick for the last three weeks. Nothing changes here. He fills a huge need and happens to be a heck of a corner. He's the 2nd rated corner behind Milliner on my board. And I think he's got everything you look for in a corner. The most important to me is ball recognition. When the ball is in the air, he knows what to do. He knows where to be in relation to the receiver's route and will HIGH point the ball to either intercept or knock it down. Seriously, isn't this the most glaring weakness in our secondary in seemingly forever? The last two corners that we drafted high had trouble in this area. They could get in position, but failed to make the BIG play. IMO Xavier Rhodes can make the big play. 2.42 Damontre Moore, DE from Texas A&M or Alex Okafor, DE from Texas. Either one would be great value at this pick and fill a need opposite Cameron Wake. Look, our pass defense is the glaring weakness right now. There are two ways you affect that. Pass rush and blanketing the wide receiver. With your first two picks you go a long way to solving that issue. Moore, the Texas A&M product is a guy that Mike Sherman knows a lot about. Okafor is a prospect who has slipped due to a hip injury after being slated as a first round guy during Senior Bowl week. Speaking of which, he dominated every OLmen he went up against except Fisher. 2.54 Montee Ball, RB from Wisconsin. I'm just not going to go thru this mock without drafting one of my favorite players in this draft. His stock has steadily increased lately so I'm nabbing him here at the end of round 2. Although I'd prefer to wait until 77 ideally. Ball has great vision and quickness to the hole. He runs with superior balance and leg drive. They compare him to former Jet Curtis Martin, and I have to say that is a perfect comparison, he even wears the same #. IMO we haven't solved the running back spot by letting Reggie Bush walk and hoping Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are the replacements. Draft Montee Ball and you will never regret it. 3.77 Gavin Escobar, TE from SDSU For the second year in a row, the Dolphins take a tight end in the third round. Although I still hold out hope that Egnew can be a player for us, with Dustin Keller signed to a one year deal and not having a clean injury record, we need to address the tight end position at some point in this third/fourth round area. This makes sense and is right where Escobar is graded. 3.82 Ryan Swope, WR Texas A&M Sure we addressed wide receiver in free agency. We brought in Mike Wallace... hold on... that never gets old. We brought in MIKE WALLACE!!! And a real sleeper free agent in Brandon Gibson. Resigned Brian Hartline. Still have Davone Bess who may or may not be traded. Regardless, lets go balls out and get Ryan Tannehill's security blanket in Ryan Swope. As my wife says to me when she realizes it's draft week and my *** will be on the couch for hours on end... awwww **** it. If Swope is available at this pick, and it might be a big if, do the right thing and take him and not look back. 4.111 Alvin Bailey, G Arkansas You have a guy that big, 6.3 313 pounds, running a 4.9 40... realizing that he played in a scheme that asked him to move A LOT, he could be a good fit for us at this spot. 5.146 JC Tretter, G Cornell Yes it's another guard, but he could be better suited at tackle. 5.166 Tony Jefferson, S Oklahoma Instinctive, sold depth and special teams guy. Who could eventually start. Can't ask for more than that from a fifth round pick. 7.217 Jonathan Stewart, ILB Texas A&M 7.224 Kwame Geathers, DT Georgia 7.250 Caleb Sturgis, K Florida Need a kicker to push Carpenter this year. Going to be hard to sign a UDFA worth anything to compete against him. So draft a guy with your last draft pick Thanks for reading. Now where's my new Dolphin hat and jersey?
Would be very happy with Rhodes and Moore, not sure about Bell though at that spot. We have bigger needs to fill IMO. Overall though I can dig it.
I think we'll take a running back at some point between 54 and 111. May as well get the best of the bunch at the 54th overall.
Do not like. Would much rather see something like: 12: Tyler Eifert TE ND - Best TE in this class by far. If we're drafting horizontally this makes sense. Best player at his position, biggest differential from player 1 to player 2 (Ertz), and its a position of need which is an Ireland trend. 42: Jonathan Banks, DJ Hayden, Jamar Taylor, or Darius Slay - We need a CB. This is similar to what we did when we drafted Sean Smith. 54: Margus Hunt, Sam Montgomery, or Alex Okafor - Another rushing DE. 77: Stedman Bailey WR WVU - Hines Ward has a kid with a different last name. His name is Stedman Bailey. 82: David Amerson, Logan Ryan, or Jordan Poyer - Allows us to dump one of the Cb's we have who are only good at playing slot. Im guessing patterson would be the odd man out at a 4.5M cap savings. 111: David Bahktiari OT Colorado - Mobile and versatile, he fits the mold of a Philbin tackle in a zone blocking scheme 146: Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina - Will be a heck of a RB and a great character guy. 166: Nicholas Williams DT Samford - 217: Robert Lester SS, Alabama - Hard hitter, could be another Bernard Pollard. 224: Omoregie Uzzi OG Georgia Tech - Mobile run blocker who is this low only because of medical issues. 250: Caleb Sturgis K Florida
I like girls from DR and from Sweeden! I just go for BPA at a position of need. Ive been drafting horizontally for as long as we've been posting together
Any of those guys could be a 1st round pick. Any of them could fall to 42 for various reasons. DJ Hayden had a torn muscle in a heart and that is a surgery which typically takes a year and a half to recover from. That means he might not be ready for camp or for the season.
I feel like people have completely forgot that we are in serious need of pass rushers. I'm not talking about the guys in this thread, but all the mocks out there I've seen, people have us taking a T, G, WR, TE, CB, S...but no pass rusher. It's become important to get people who can pressure the QB in this passing league, especially for a team who is chasing Tom Brady and the Pats. Get Cam some help!
I've seen a few mocks that have ziggy falling to us and the dolphins taking him not that sold on mingo myself though so unless we trade up or down a 1st round de seems like a stretch
I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. My ideal draft would look something like: 12: Tavon Austin, WR 42: Jamar Taylor, CB 54: Robert Alford, CB 77: Travis Kelce, TE 82: Brennan Williams, OT 111: Earl Wolff, FS 146: OG or DT 166: Mike James, HB
For the first time in forever the Dolphins have a legit long term starter at QB, priority one should be keeping him healthy. We're not going to lose the most important guy in the franchise because we don't have CBs, Pass rushers across from Wake, slot WRs or TE's from schools who produce overrated players every friggin year.
It really is apparent to me that unless the Dolphins absolutely LOVE a player at 12 who is also at a need position (relatively speaking) they should trade down. I'd take Austin or Eifert at 12 (though still might be better to trade down) or one of the two OGs (assuming the three OTs are gone). But, otherwise, I just am not enamored with the other players. Especially not at CB. I don't think there is enough differentiation among the CBs (nor any real Revis-like stars - that we can see) that this would be value at 12. Maybe at 18-25, but not at 12. Trading down could garner another 2nd rounder and shore up another position. There are needs at DE (certainly); CB; OT (clearly); OG (future and next year if Jerry doesn't shape up); OLB; WR; FS .... Not trusting the 5th-7th round picks to land starters there (shocking as that may be to JI).
1. Tyler Eifert TE, ND 2a. Tevon Armstead OT, Ark PB (this is the key to the draft and my biggest worry. He could EASILY be gone at 42) 2b. Alex Okafor DE, TX 3a. Robert Alford CB, SE Lou OR Jordan Poyer CB Org St (pretty sure one of these two will be here and both are good fits for our zone) 3b. Ryan Swopes WR, Tx A&M OR Marquise Goodwin, OR Gio Bernard 4. Brian Schwenke, C/OG, California. 5a. Duke Williams S, Nev 5b. Kevin Reddick ILB, UNC 7a. Jawan Jamison RB Rutgers 7b. Reggie Dunn KR, Utah 7c. Dustin Hopkins K, FSU
Jones, Clemons, Bess (undrafted), Wake (Canada)...seems to me he knows a little bit about getting starters other than in rounds one thru 3....??
Well I don't have a dream mock that i'm going by but I do have a list of players at positions that I like minus the QB position of course. I list these in no order of any kind. RUNNING BACK: This would be a pick made during the mid to later rounds 1. Giovanni Bernard- I'd almost be willing to grab him if he's available in the third round. I know it seems high for us but I really like him and he'd be a great consolation prize towards missing out on Tavon Austin (which it looks like is gonna happen). 2. Marcus Lattimore- A guy we could work in slowly and not have to rush to bring back, kind of like when Buffalo took Mcgahee. 3. Montee Ball- I like him as a steal in the later rounds. Wisconsin has produced some decent NFL players as of late. 4. Kenjon Barner- Whats not to like? Home run threat...big play ability. WIDE RECEIVER: I think if we do take one it will be based on the "tier" concept. Tier 2 player available in the 4th round type thing. 1. Steadman Bailey- I'll do snoopy dances if we get him. 2. Robert Woods- Slipping on a lot of draft boards lately..Anyone know why? 3. Justin Hunter TIGHT END: 1. Tyler Eifert- I think he's the guy we pick at 12. O-LINE: 1. Chance Warmack 2. Lance Johnson- I hope we trade up and draft him and just be done with it. 3. D.J Fluker- Can he pass protect? D-LINEMEN: I don't think we will draft a DT until the later rounds. PASS RUSHERS: We could really use one. I have heard that the Eagles may possibly be making Trent Cole available on draft day. Thats a trade I would in a heartbeat. Otherwise I like these guys. 1.Dion Jordan- can cover and rush the QB.. He's going to be a superstar and I don't think he'll be available when we pick 1A. Jarvis Jones- I really hope we draft him....But we wont. 2.Ziggy Ansah- Faster than any other pass rusher in this draft. 3.Cornellius Carradine 4.Bjoern Werner 5.David Bass- I like him in the later round as a diamond in the rough type player....Paul Kruger type of guy. We need a pass rusher in this draft. That is a fact and it could be a painful one if we ignore it. 6. Tourek Williams- can drop back in coverage and fill in multiple spots on the defensive line. 7. William Gholston- Scary athlete. LINEBACKERS: Again...hard to to see us drafting one early on but I like some more of those Diamond type players. 1. Jordan Campbell- Undersized but he has an incredible motor and passion for the game. I'm not quite sure what the difference is between him and Manti Teo other than just the national attention Teo has gotten. He'll be a steal for some team. Probably the Pats. 2. Sio Moore- Probably gone by the second round 3. Kevin Minter- tackling machine. 4. Ty Powell- Another potential gem in the later rounds. 5. James Bostic CORNERBACKS: We need one or two badly... We all know about Milliner, and Rhodes and even Banks to a certain extent. Jamar Taylor is rising as well and any one of them would be great to have. However I like some of the lesser known names as well. 1. DJ Hayden- Not really a secret anymore and might be available in the second round. 2. Jordan Poyer- Good all around corner. 3. Tyrann Mathiue- Honey Badger passed his drug test and is worth a look in the 4-5 round range. Don't tell me he's not. 4. Terry Hawethorne- The DB from Illinois has a nose for the ball and is going to be a steal for some team. 5. Steve Williams- DB from Cal is super fast and is durable despite being a smaller corner. Runs a 4.34! 6. Will Davis- Utah State corner can play. 7. Brandon Mcgee- This pick would be a potential pick. He's one of the fastest guys out there but has been burned. 8. Rashaan Melvin- 6'2 192, 4.4 has Sean Smith size but could be a better corner. 9. Sheldon Price- 6'2...Another big strong fast corner. I like those. See Seatle Seahawks. 10. Logan Ryan- Solid tackler. 11. Robert Alford- One of my favorite DB's in this draft. This guy can make plays. It's clearly obvious that I feel we need to draft a cornerback...Or two. This has become a passing league. Our front seven is pretty good but if we don't address the DB position in this draft we aren't going to be winning any games much less making the playoffs. Brent Grimes signing is a good start. Lets get him a running mate, there are plenty to choose from in this draft. SAFETY: I for one am not at all on board with drafting Vaccaro with our first pick. I like him but not with our top pick. If we do spend 12 on him i'll have to learn to like it and if he can play nickel corner then i'll like it even more, and if he's the next Ed Reed i'll flat out say I was wrong. Here are some other safeties I like. 1. Ray Polk- The guy is a flat out athlete. Runs a low 4:40 time, isn't the greatest coverage safety but he is a beast of a hitter. 2. Zeke Motta- We missed out on Zbikowski a few years ago. I really like Motta. Big physical safety, gritty player. 3. Robert Lester- Alabama safety...Good football player. 4.Shamarko Thomas- He has health issues but reminds me of former Syracuse safety Donavon Darius. If he can stay healthy he's a steal. 5. Cooper Taylor- his size alone 6'5 220something suggests that he'd be worth a look. Especially if he can actually play safety.
I'd start with signing Eric Winston and Bryant McKinnie and have them compete with Jonathan Martin, Yeatman and Nate Garner for the 2 starting tackle spots. It sounds like Winston and McKinnie, both of whom are UM guys and want to be here, could be had for a combined $6 million or so, and adding both gives great depth at OT. Then in the draft: 1-12: Tavon Austin, WR, WVU -- WR is not a need but Austin is unique and special and when unique and special players are available, you take them. He can be deadly in the slot working the middle fo the field, but can also provide speed on the outside opposite Wallace. With a little creative playcalling, I think you can also get him 100 carries out of the backfield. 2-42: Margus Hunt, DE, SMU -- Hunt is an athletic and physical freak who is a little raw but has become a good football player in just a few years of playing football. I think the sky is the limit for him. He also offers some versatility in that he has the speed and bend to get to the QB around the corner but can also rush from the inside, using his ability to knife between blockers (as he does on FG and XP blocks) to get to the QB and bat down passes. 2-54: Terron Armstead, OT/OG, Ark.-Pine Bluff -- Like Hunt, he is a freakish athlete but also a good football player with tremendous potential. Long term, I see him as a LT, but he could easily play inside for a year or two, using his incredible speed and quickness, until he is ready to start on the blind side. 3-77: Dave Amerson, CB, NC State -- Tall corner with an incredible knack for the INT (18 over the last 2 seasons). Can play zone or off man, which fits our scheme. Good speed and athleticism too. 3-82: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan St. -- Big back (6-2, 230) who rushed for almost 1800 yards in 2012 and ran a 4.56 40 at the Combine. Although powerfully built, he has some wiggle and deception to his running style and has a knack for leaping over defenders. Would form a nice tandem with Lamar Miller. 4-111: Corey Lemonier, DE/OLB, Auburn -- Physically talented edge rusher who plays with aggression. Probably a situational pass rusher, but could develop into a true OLB. 5-146: Dion Sims, TE, Michigan St. -- Big, physical TE who is probably the best blocking TE in this draft class. Still a pretty good athlete, catches the ball well and does some damage runnign after the catch. With Keller and Egnew we have a few receiving TEs, but no great blocking TEs or real complete TEs. 5-166: Robert Lester, S, Alabama -- Good size (6-1, 220), solid speed (4.6), nose for the ball (14 INTs in 3 seasons), and experience in a sophisticated, Nick Saban-coached defensive backfield. 7-217: Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA -- Great size and big red zone threat. 7-224: Dustin Hopkins, K, FSU -- Good kicker. Competition for Carpenter and potentially cheap alternative. 7-250: Matt Tobin, G, Iowa -- Good size and athleticism (6-6, 303 and ran a 4.9 at the Combine) and has gotten some good coaching at Iowa. That's enough to be worth taking a flyer on in the 7th. I don't think he'll be drafted, but I'd have interest in Collin Klein as a UDFA. Similar build and background to Tannehill and has some versatility.
Good stuff Paul, cept a 2nd round pick on RB instantly makes it a nightmare draft for me. Miami does not need to spend a high pick on that position AGAIN. Plug and play.
miller and thomas would be fine IMO. We were also getting thigpen on the field there a few times last season. Gotta think that continues.
Trade back in first, pick Tank Carradine. Use one third and early second to trade up for Hayden. Trade late second for Albert. Take Kelce, Escobar, or McDonald in that order of preference in the third. Take Bailey, Swope, or Montee Ball with final third pick. Take a NT, OG, LB, QB, FS with final picks in some BPA order. Look for possible late K, RB, or WR.
