1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

What are the Dolphins' needs for the 2016 draft?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Paul 13, Apr 23, 2016.

  1. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    I'm thinking about needs, specifically the Dolphins "needs board" as it relates to the draft. I look at NFL.com and they have CB, S, OL, DL as the top four needs. So I have to give this a shot in the hopes of making a better point than them. I honestly don't think we have a glaring need at this point in the season. We can go best player available in the top of this draft (I'm sure some will roast me for that notion). By that I mean, I don't think we look at 13 (or 42) and say, we have to pick a player at this position and that if we don't, we're going to be terrible this season. You could argue we're going to be terrible anyway :lol: There's certainly a lot of bearish opinions here.

    1. Defensive End. I'm struggling between this and corner as the top need. If you look down our roster at this position you see Cameron Wake, Mario Williams, Andre Branch, Terrence Fede, Damontre Moore, Chris McCain, perhaps Dion Jordan, and then a bunch of guys that will have a hard time making the team. Really, Wake is coming off the injury and Mario is coming off a down year. Behind them, we don't have a guy that can come in and start to the point where we'd feel confident that there wouldn't be a drop off in the front four. It's hard to say the Dolphins shouldn't add to this group in the first two days.

    2. Cornerback. We've added to this group quite a bit recently. You've got guys added that I suspect this front office really likes in Ekpre-Olomu, Chekwa and Patmon. Tannenbaum actually named Patmon after Taylor and Lippett yesterday in terms of young/potential guys, no Bobby McCain. That was somewhat alarming. You've got Byron Maxwell coming in as your #1 guy. Time will tell on all of this. I could see us not drafting a corner in the first three rounds, just depending on how the draft plays out relative to the guys we have on our board. It would probably be something that comes back to bite them though. Because if your pass rush isn’t consistent (see above) you’re going to need guys that can cover on the back end. You look at the pre draft invite to Miami list and corner is well represented.

    3. Running Back. I like Jay Ajayi. A lot. But you need a solid stable of backs in this league. 3 guys you can depend on to get it done. We have a grand total of five backs on our roster at the moment. In estimated depth chart order: Ajayi, D. Williams, Pead, D. Thomas, Jahwan Edwards. That is simply very short of league average. I don't like Williams at all. So in my mind you've only got 1 guy in Ajayi as a guy you can safely put on the 53. If we don't draft a back in the first three rounds, I could see us doubling up in the last four. We've misplayed this position since the end of the 2015 season both in our Lamar Miller strategy and finding a replacement for him. I'd be shocked if we don't draft a running back in the first four rounds. I just hope it's the right one.

    4. Linebacker. A lot of youth here and, after last season, a couple of these guys (Vigil and Hewitt) got quality playing time. We added Alonso, who when healthy is a definite upgrade. You’ve got Jelani Jenkins, who really came out of nowhere two seasons ago but then seemed to drop off last year. Koa Misi is back on a reworked contract. Those are your likely starters. Although, depending on the system, we could add McCain or Moore as that linebacker at the end of the line in place of Misi/Jenkins. Knowing that you’re going to play 2 of these guys a majority of the time, do you add another linebacker in this draft early? Is that a good allocation of resources? It could be if it’s the right player. Look, for as long as most of us have been Dolfans, we’ve had that star in the middle of the defense. Whether that be John Offerdahl or Zach Thomas. Recently though, that void has grown larger and larger. Yes there’s a chance that Kiko Alonso could be that guy. But if the right player is there, you have to consider it. A captain for the middle of this defense to lock it down once and for all. Myles Jack is the only guy in this draft that I'd trade up for from #13.

    5. Offensive Line. I would be remiss if I didn’t bring them up. It’s not sexy. It’s not flashy. But after last season, well… after the last many many seasons, we still have an offensive line that is not where we want it to be. Albert/Pouncey and maybe James. Those are your key pieces, your foundation. Any injury to one of those guys messes up the whole program. We’ve attempted to add depth to the group. Veteran depth as well in Bushrod and Urbik and Young. It’s a good start. We’ve got three guards in Thomas, Turner and Douglas that got a lot of playing time last season that are probably going to be a big part of your depth this season, like it or not. Although, I reckon we could trade Dallas Thomas to Indy to reunite him with their new OL coach, don’t you? Catch Irsay in a pleasured state, as it were? But that's quickly nine guys... and you've hit your roster limit if you're not already over it. Do we go the Dallas Cowboys route? Adding a high draft pick to the group? Do we continue to draft someone in the 3rd/4th round area hoping to find that quality starter? Can we afford to not draft anyone? Those are some questions that will be answered next week.

    6. Wide Receiver. I cant say we won’t draft a receiver. Your top three are pretty set though in Landry, Parker and Stills. I’m expecting big things from Stills this season with Gase maximizing his potential and getting him back on track that saw him play well with the Saints. Big expectations for Parker as well, no doubt. You’d like to add some insurance and the Dolphins started to do that I guess with the addition of Whalen. A guy who could elevate to the top three, based on prior experience in this league. Matt Hazel as well. But there’s definitely room for a draft pick here. There’s also plenty of room for a veteran to be added to this young group, one of the youngest in the NFL.

    7. Defensive Tackle. Suh/Phillips/Mitchell/Chris Jones. We could still add to this group. This is a solid draft at this position. Don’t see it in the first two rounds though. There's questions here with Phillips and Mitchell. You want to get better, but how many positions can you address in one draft?

    8. Tight End. Jordan Cameron is back for another year after reworking his deal. I’m interested to see what he can do in an Adam Gase led offense. Dion Sims needs to take that next step. I could see us adding to this position starting in the 3rd round if the value is there.

    Bottom line? We’ve got 8 draft picks going into next Thursday. And at least two more picks added in the form of compensatory selections for the 2017 draft. While we can't trade those picks now (not until after they are awarded next offseason), we can trade any of our regular 2017 picks and add a condition to the trade that a compensatory selection be used instead. I know it's confusing. There’s coincidentally enough 8 positions listed above. Would be really nice to hit on every position but the truth is, that never happens. We’ve got a lot of ways we could go and coming off a 6 and 10 season, the help wanted sign is flashing in bright neon letters. But to me, the majority of the 8 picks need to be used on the defensive side of the ball.

    Not listed, quarterback and safety. Not to say we wouldn’t draft a quarterback, I just see the 8 positions listed above as more of a need for the 2016 season. New coach, a re-tooling year for sure. 24 new players since the end of last season with at least 15 more to come in the next week or so (with the draft and undrafted free agents). That’s a lot of turnover. And if we draft a quarterback in the 1st round next Thursday, it’s a much bigger rebuild than most of us thought.
     
  2. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    You look at the trade down from 8 to 13 and the fact that we picked up two starters in the process, one at corner and the other at linebacker. If you stay at 13 and draft a defensive end, think of how the front office will spin that. They will say that they addressed each level of the defense with their first round pick. The effectiveness of that, only time will tell. But that's a valid argument Grier/Tannenbaum could make next week.
     
  3. Pandarilla

    Pandarilla Purist Emeritus

    14,282
    5,005
    113
    Sep 10, 2009
    Boone, NC
    [​IMG]

    Hey Paul, I really like Jakeem Grant in the fifth. He's the weasely midget WR from Texas Tech. He's got the ultimate little man complex at 5'6', 167. He's fast as hell and fun to watch. He could start returning kicks, but he's the extreme Bess/Welker type.

    I want us to take Laquan McGowan in the 6th. Another weirdo because of his size, 6'7 410 lbs. He played at Baylor at the TE position. Dude makes one handed catches look easy. Nobody covers him as he was viewed more as a circus sideshow. He could be tried at guard or TE or blocking H-back in short yardage.

    I think Miami has taken a close look at Jakeem. He might go undrafted because of his size, but he adds something completely different to the slot position. McGowan would be the biggest guy ever drafted...
     
    Paul 13 and dolfan7171 like this.
  4. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

    25,809
    39,060
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Berlin,Germany
    i think its pretty hyperbole to call it alarming that they mentioned patmon and some other guys before lippett, taylor and MCcain, but thats what has always been your forte...the glass is half empty approach
     
  5. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    What? He mentioned him after taylor and lippett? Left out mccain. My forte has always been half empty? Thats news to me. I flip flop alot between being upbeat and negative with regards to this teams outlook. Change like the wind. :lol:
     
  6. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    I am one of those individuals who would select Elliott if he is still on the board at 13. Unlike a lot of people on this site, I don't think getting a highly productive RB is that easy. In fact all you need to do is look at the Marino years and see how never having a top tier RB was a big reason the Dolphins never won a SB during those years.

    John Elway and the Broncos never won a SB until they had a great RB they could depend on toward the end of Elway's career.

    If Elliott has already been taken, I really don't see another RB worthy of being a first round selection. So with all the pressing needs on this team, my order of selection in the first round if Elliott has already been selected would be:

    1) CB

    2) LB

    3) OT- someone who can start at a guard position immediately, but can play the tackle position in the future.

    4) DE

    5) DT

    6) safety
     
    Paul 13 likes this.
  7. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

    3,893
    3,087
    113
    Mar 6, 2010
    I still think our top priority is OG. We cannot field another woeful line that kills Tannehill or whoever our future QB is. I think our offense is a lineman or two away from being top tier.
     
    Paul 13 likes this.
  8. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    I agree OG is a big need. I just don't think there is an OG who is first round worthy in this draft. That is why I think they should look at a few of the top tackles on the board to see if they would fit at one of the guard positions for a few years, until Albert retires or leaves in a couple of years.

    I have no problem with them taking a guard later in the draft, but I think taking one in the first round to fill a big need would be a gigantic reach with the 13th pick.
     
  9. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,650
    67,542
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    we have met with Grant a couple times..I would draft the kid, I dont believe he will make it to undrafted status..I think they really want Juice off punt return..
     
    Pandarilla likes this.
  10. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,650
    67,542
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    if Hargraves is gone, and floyd is gone, and Zeke is there then I would take zeke as well.
     
    jw3102 likes this.
  11. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

    3,893
    3,087
    113
    Mar 6, 2010
    Agreed. I like going OT as Albert likely won't be healthy all season and we need to think about the future of that position. Bonus if they can start out at OG and the draft a developmental G later in the draft.
    quite frankly, whether it's OT, DE, CB, S or LB, I don't care as long as they have the potential to be an impact player.
     
    jw3102 likes this.
  12. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

    3,087
    2,038
    113
    Jul 27, 2013
    This draft imo, is similar, but better than the 2013 draft, in that there is not much in the way of 1st round talent, where that draft was nearly devoid of 1st round talent, this draft has a handful of guys that fit the bill. In all likelihood they will be gone by 13, and in that case I would be looking to trade down, a couple times if possible, because I think the 2nd round talent starts about where we are drafting and goes into the 3rd round. I would like to add a 2nd and a 3rd, netting 5 picks in the first 3 rounds.

    I would double down on OG, I would also like another OT, also feel that a RB is a need, and a big bodied WR would be nice, I feel like regardless what the FO is trying to sell to the fans, we are in rebuild mode, but not from the ground up, not a total rebuild, refurbish mode if you will, and imo offense should be the focus of this draft. So that we can get the best possible situation to put QB17 in, so that we can get the most accurate gauge on where he is as a QB.

    There are 2 guys outside the 1st round that I'm in love with;

    QB, Dak Prescott, imo he is a Tim Tebow that can actually throw the ball, the way his team rallied around him shows SPECIAL leadership abilities, that is something that CANNOT be taught, where his shortcomings are CAN be taught, but I think he can be a 6'2", 230lb Russell Wilson, I truly believe that he can become a true elite QB.

    TE, Ben Braunecker, he was like a fire breathing dragon last year in the ivy league, blocked like a Mack truck, half the time the guys weren't just blocked, they were victims, then he graded out as the best TE at the combine physically, acing every single drill. He needs some work in some areas, but this guy could be special, decent speed, good strength and agility, and a nasty attitude, and obviously coming from Harvard, he's not dumb.

    In FA, they have gone all D, in the draft they should focus on O imo.
     
    Pandarilla likes this.
  13. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

    13,501
    6,246
    113
    Oct 13, 2008
    New York
    Db, lb.
     
  14. Georgia Fin

    Georgia Fin Fin For Life

    3,004
    1,653
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    West Georgia
    Honestly, we have so many needs and we haven't done enough to really make me think this season will be successful, my vote is BPA. Someone is going to slide to 13 that shouldn't and we should pounce on him. We have to start hitting on our picks and the last time we did (Landry) it payed off big time. We need more Landry Type players on our roster.
     
    Pandarilla likes this.
  15. Pandarilla

    Pandarilla Purist Emeritus

    14,282
    5,005
    113
    Sep 10, 2009
    Boone, NC
    Yeah, we've got a developmental roster. Our roster is pretty solid in the sense that it's mediocre. We still didn't get blown out of games, except within our division, lol. Our oline is way too soft for our division.

    I half expect Tunsil to drop to #5. If we do trade up, it should be at #5. We'll either get Ramsey, Jack or Tunsil. All players that are needs and upgrades. I'd also like to think we could do it by trading our second round pick and next year's third. A small price considering we'd recover our lost third rounder with our compensatory pick. Tunsil makes the most sense with this team.

    Elliot would help a lot with pass pro, as well. But so would Henry.

    I agree that we should just take bpa if we stay at 13. If we're dead set on corner, though, we should trade down. Otherwise, Shaq Lawson or Conky should be our pick at 13.
     
    Georgia Fin likes this.
  16. Hellion

    Hellion Crash Club Member

    1,800
    798
    113
    Dec 4, 2007
    Here and there
    It is a valid argument no doubt but so is saying they addressed the defense already with two starters by trading down and then using the 13# pick to take Zeke (if there, but not likely) or trade up for him to take him. I'm not a fan of trading up myself. But wouldn't throw a brick if we did.
     
  17. Rex Deus

    Rex Deus Guest

    I really can't see us trading back up - it wouldn't make any sense. They wouldn't have traded down in the first place if they were targeting one specific player.

    I get the impression the Front Office have looked at their Board and decided that there are a number of players they'd be happy with at around pick #13. Maybe that group includes the likes of William Jackson III, Jack Conklin, Shaq Lawson, etc.

    Perhaps we get lucky and someone like Zeke drops. Right now it's all about bringing in players who can contribute - we have plenty of holes.
     
  18. Hellion

    Hellion Crash Club Member

    1,800
    798
    113
    Dec 4, 2007
    Here and there
    I agree I don't see Miami trading down again unless the comp is crazy good for them.
     

Share This Page