My mock for the NFL Draft's first round. I have a feeling many of you won't be content with Miami's selection, though. http://youngspeaksports.com/2015/04/30/2015-nfl-mock-draft-2-0/
Hopefully this scenario doesn't take place for the Dolphins. I would rather see them select Gurley and trading up with the Jets, which would cost them their second round selection and watching the Jets draft Gurley would be terrible IMO. The Dolphins are too many players away from being a playoff team to only have one pick in the first three rounds. I would rather see them stay at 14 and keep their second round pick or possibly move down and pick up more picks. The absolute last thing I want is for them to trade up for a WR in the first round. They can always get a quality WR in the second round if that position is a priority for them. Right now, CB, LB, OG, and Gurley are bigger needs than a WR in the first round, IMO.
Better scheme fit as a natural WCO type of receiver. I also think Cooper is simply higher on their board. Safer prospect who you know will not bust (which is reassuring when trading up). White may have a slightly higher upside, but he certainly comes with more questions. I think Cooper's athletic ability is often undermined - that won't be of any concern in the NFL.
Seems to be the opinion most Dolphins fans hold. Very fair. The only reason I can see Miami willing to trade up is its desire to add an elite prospect at WR. The Dolphins have enough mid-level receivers, so I don't see the upside in drafting one in the second round who will simply be another body in that caravan.
I will agree Cooper is probably the top WR in the draft. If the Dolphins were just one elite WR away from contending for a playoff spot, I would have no problem with them trading up and giving up their first and second round pick for Cooper. I just think that the defense is the main issue for this team right now. They really don't have any starting caliber CB's except for Grimes and even his play regressed late in the season last year. They are weak at the LB position and they need to add another young safety. I also think drafting another young DT somewhere in the middle rounds is a necessity. On offense, OG is a bigger need than WR, IMO. The advantage to drafting Gurley is that it is unlikely the Dolphins will be able to rebuild their defense in one draft. With him in the backfield, the Dolphins should be able to sustain more offensive drives and the defense will be able to spend less time on the field. Perhaps in a draft in a few years they will have enough talent on the roster to move up and take the best WR in that years draft. I just don't think this is the year for them to make such a drastic move up in the first round.
The Dolphins aren't one player away, you're right about that. Doesn't that then suggest they should take the most elite prospect available? This is what I've been saying over and over. If you plan on contending for the Super Bowl in 3 years, your plan should optimize who you are at that point with some thought going to getting the most developmental positions in as early as possible. I don't quite understand how you can point to WR as being a luxury saying the team isn't "one WR away from contending" yet also be a proponent of filling a need just so (I'm assuming) you want the team to be more competitive on the short term. If you're thinking beyond just the next 1-2 seasons, you draft on talent and upside, right? So if Miami thinks Cooper is a better WR than Waynes is a CB, they should logically draft Cooper. If they like Waynes over Cooper, they can take Waynes. The point though, is that too many people argue in circles against the idea of long-term development and for the idea of short-term fixes. I think that's a big reason why Miami is perpetually stuck at being a roughly .500 team.
I think Gurley is more elite at his position than Cooper is at WR. I also see Tannehill as more of a game manager type QB than the elite type QB who can carry the offense mostly on his own. I think game manager QB's have a much better chance of leading their teams to the playoffs if they have a great running back and a decent receiving corp. Tannehill seems to be most effective with short to intermediate range passes and the Dolphins already have WR's on their roster who can be effective on those type passes. Gurley would also be a big upgrade over Miller as a pass receiver out of the backfield and the tough back they need to pick up first downs in short yardage situations and TD's in the red zone. He also has the speed to outrun the defensive players once he breaks into the secondary. He is the type of RB who can come in and upgrade the offense from day one and with him in the backfield, the opposing defenses will have to play their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage. This will open up more of the passing lanes for Tannehill and the receivers. I just think Gurley is the top offensive player in this draft and would do more for the Dolphins offense than a speedy WR who Tannehill probably wouldn't be able to connect with once he got behind the defensive backs. I think Cooper will be an excellent WR in the NFL. I just don't think he would be as effective with Tannehill as his QB as he would be with an elite QB throwing the ball to him. If Gurley isn't available when they select, I would prefer they draft CB Marcus Peters, but I seriously doubt that will happen. To me Peters is the best CB prospect in the draft and I think he can be as effective as a CB in the NFL as Cooper can be at the WR position. With Tannehill at QB this coming season and for the foreseeable future, I think the Dolphins are going to have to win games with a strong defense and running game and a slightly better than average passing game. So right now, I just don't see a trade up for Cooper or one of the other top three WR's being in the best long term interest of the Dolphins. Based on how little interest Tannebaum showed in WR talent in the draft while he was the GM of the Jets. I think a lot of the so called interest in taking a WR with their first round pick may be nothing but a giant smoke screen by Tannebaum and Hickey. As far as short term vs long term is concerned. I have been stating since Tannebaum was hired that I believe he is building this team so they can be a legitimate contender by 2016. To me it is going to take at least two solid drafts to fill most of the obvious holes on this team. I see them as an 8-8 team in 2015, no matter what players they draft over the next few days. I just think Gurley will be more of an impact player for the Dolphins over the coming years than any other offense player in this draft would be.
That La'el Collins story is weird. I would be in the "take him off my board" camp. Dude may be perfectly alright, but anytime a prospect is associated with a murder ... well Hernandez is just too fresh. All for trading up to get Cooper. I think having a talent of that caliber to cement the WR corps is a good thing. I don't think we need another body there, we need a #1 ("but Lazor's offense!" be damned). Would be interesting to see a divisional trade like that though, and I certainly wouldn't do it unless the price is right and the Jests are dealing in a way similar to the Raiders a few years back. Issue with Gurley is injuries. And what is it with South Carolina players and injuries lately? I smell another lemon ala Clowney. Either way, his history and style don't really seem to favor a productive/lengthy career, and RBs are just so low value these days. The big issue with not making a trade is that we risk losing out on prospects we really like. Lots of mocks now showing Scherff, all 3 top WRs, Waynes and Gurley all gone. We would either have to take a risk on Gregory/Ray or settle for a reach at WR/OL most likely. Unless you can get someone to bite for Gordon, we would be left in a bad spot. Good year to make a move.
