At Pick 125 WR Erik Ezukanma

"Fishhead wrote:

Don’t forget about Cedric Wilson. Unless this kid is really special, I don’t see how he sees the field this year.

And he has a three year contract.

They must not want to be in a situation where injuries hurt as bad as last year

All I’m going to say about this season’s receiving corps is this…

If the ball is within your catch radius, you had better catch the damn ball! I LOVED Jakeem Grant but as much as I loved that little speed demon, I would get equally angry at him for missing balls that were right in his hands.

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

All I’m going to say about this season’s receiving corps is this…

If the ball is within your catch radius, you had better catch the damn ball! I LOVED Jakeem Grant but as much as I loved that little speed demon, I would get equally angry at him for missing balls that were right in his hands.

LOL, Jakeem was one of my favorites as well. It was certainly a love/hate relationship though with those tiny hands and tiny catch radius. I almost feel like I can be an even bigger fan with him on another team, LOL.

"KeyFin wrote:

LOL, Jakeem was one of my favorites as well. It was certainly a love/hate relationship though with those tiny hands and tiny catch radius. I almost feel like I can be an even bigger fan with him on another team, LOL.

Why would you like a WR that can't catch the football? He made me ill every time he was back to catch a punt, kept waiting for a fumble

"dolphin25 wrote:

Why would you like a WR that can't catch the football? He made me ill every time he was back to catch a punt, kept waiting for a fumble

I don't know, I guess because his chances of making the team were so tiny to begin with, I just loved seeing the little guy have some success.

I like this kid's highlight reel. Great hands, good vision, a low center of gravity, and he doesn't stop trying to gain yards until he's on the ground. I can see him getting snaps.

"OwesOwn614 wrote:

I like this kid's highlight reel. Great hands, good vision, a low center of gravity, and he doesn't stop trying to gain yards until he's on the ground. I can see him getting snaps.

He interviews well. Ive watched a couple interviews with him. I'm liking the character of these picks and the players on the team.

Ezukanma is the fifth-rated rookie per pff.com:

5T. WR ERIK EZUKANMA, MIAMI DOLPHINS (91.0)
Ezukanma has already flashed a complete skill set this preseason. The big-bodied receiver has not only won multiple times at the catch point (2-of-3 on contested targets), but he's also done work after the catch (three broken tackles) He’s hauled in eight catches on 11 targets for 132 yards on 36 routes run. The fourth-rounder provides a physical presence that complements the rest of the receiving corps in Miami.

Ezukanma is going to be what we thought Devante Parker was going to be

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Ezukanma is going to be what we thought Devante Parker was going to be

Injured?

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Ezukanma is going to be what we thought Devante Parker was going to be

Shows flashes of brilliance one game then disappears for the next 3?

"Phin McCool wrote:

Injured?

"Pauly wrote:

Shows flashes of brilliance one game then disappears for the next 3?

It's a tough crowd. He said "what we thought DVP was going to be", not "what DVP was". :lol:

"OwesOwn614 wrote:

It's a tough crowd. He said "what we thought DVP was going to be", not "what DVP was". :lol:

:hi5:

"Phin McCool wrote:

Injured?

Too funny. Let's hope not but gave me a laugh.

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https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article271606797.html

https://atbnetwork.com/2023/02/10/miami-dolphins-most-underrated-need/

Erik Ezukanma and the Miami Dolphins Most Underrated Need

The Miami Dolphins have a number of needs to address this off-season, but another wide receiver is one that might be overlooked.

The Miami Dolphins are heading into one of the most pivotal off-seasons in quite some time. 2022 was a step in the right direction, but going into what is likely year two of Miami’s three-year Super Bowl window, the time is now to fill their remaining needs.

Throughout last season, the needs were obvious: linebacker, offensive line, tight end, and some secondary depth.

While each of those will need to be filled this spring to reach the next level, there is another position that could use some help: Wide receiver.

At first glance, that idea makes no sense. Miami has arguably the best receiving duo in the league in Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. They also spent capital on Cedrick Wilson, Erik Ezukanma, and Trent Sherfield. The group looks deep, but there’s a role that must be filled. That role being the versatile possession receiver who can be used in either the slot or in contested catch situations downfield.

Sure, Sherfield did a fine job there in spurts, but it was clear that he was never the long-term solution. Miami went out of their way to draft Erik Ezukanma, whose skillset was acquired to complement Waddle and Hill.

On The Roster
Ezukanma is clearly the wild card here. He only appeared in one game all season, which is a bit concerning for someone who looks to step into a big role. It was clear in college that his tape matched what Miami was looking for. However, they opted not to play him until Week 18.

If he can elevate his game into someone who is not only a contributor, but a plus player, then this conversation goes out the window. However, if he doesn’t, Miami maintains this need for a versatile receiver with a knack for contested catch situations.

This need is even more prevalent if Miami loses Mike Gesicki. Miami’s number one tight end and jump ball threat has likely played his last snap as a Dolphin after posting some of the lowest numbers of his career. This leaves little to no options for jump ball opportunities, as well as a void as a big slot. When you really look at it, it becomes obvious this has to be on the Miami Dolphins’ list of roster needs heading into the offseason.

Miami will have options when it comes to filling this void, although they may be limited. The free agency pool is barren at receiver, and with Miami already spending big money last year, they may opt out this time around.

The first is staying pat. Miami clearly had faith in the aforementioned Ezukanma when he was drafted, and the athletic profile is there.

The Rookie Route
However, if they feel they need another draft pick to fill the role, there are several intriguing options. Xavier Hutchinson of Iowa State was at the Senior Bowl, and combines the size and technique needed to play both outside and inside as a big slot.

Purdue’s Charlie Jones is also intriguing. Another natural fit in the slot, who also has hands made of glue. On top of that, he is expected to run in the 4.3 second range in the 40-yard dash. This would be an added bonus to Miami’s already fast offense.

Even later on in the NFL draft, Puka Nacua from BYU is certainly intriguing. His 6’1″ 210 pound frame is certainly big enough for the slot and his knack for finding soft spots in zones could be crucial in this offense.

The bottom line is this isn’t the Miami Dolphins’ number one need. If you were to list them out by position, it may not even be top five. Despite this, it’s needs like these that Super Bowl teams iron out. The future of the big slot may already be on the roster, or it may be filled this off-season. Either way, it will be interesting to see how Miami addresses it.

This one is sorta in limbo.

I think that Cracraft and Sherfield were nice little finds for us, but both will be FAs. I definitely think Sheffield could draw interest, and Cracraft is possible. I think that leaving would probably be in both of their best interests because their value is capped in Miami. Neither one could beat out Hill or Waddle. Honestly, for guys like that, even a minimal raise could be life changing money for them.

I think Miami would gladly ship out Wilson for salary reasons.

Finally, here is a bit a twist. We have the 51st pick, the 77th, and 84th pick of the draft. WR is definitely not a need, but Grier has always at least claimed to draft BPA (It just always happens to be a coincidence that the BPA is a need position.) That being said, there sure has been a decent amount of great WRs that have gone outside the first round in recent history that have been really, really solid players. There are a ton of teams needing QBs, and that means players could fall for no other reason. Sometimes passing on talent is just too difficult to do.