Draft Tek updated mock 1/1/13

Thanks for that jim1. Lotulelei at #12 would fit BPA if he's still available then, but do find it hard to imagine us going DL with 2 out of our first 3 picks.

I was watching some film of Lotulelei play against USC the other night. USC supposedly has the top center prospect available for the draft. Lotulelei was man handling him. I supposed there would be a lot of Dolphins fans upset at drafting a defensive tackle with this pick, but if Lotulelei was available, this would be a no brainer to me. This guy is an impact defender up front. The limited footage I've seen of him makes me think he will be a Haloti Ngata type of player in the NFL. I don't anticipate that he's going to be available for Miami's pick, and I'd have a hard time not putting him in the top 3-4 prospects in this draft, period.

"Claymore95 wrote:

Thanks for that jim1. Lotulelei at #12 would fit BPA if he's still available then, but do find it hard to imagine us going DL with 2 out of our first 3 picks.

That's a tough call because Star (easier to spell than his last name) is a great player. If we re-sign Starks we wouldn't really need another DT- but do you pass on the (maybe) next Haloti Ngata? It's a tough call either way, because Star looks to be easily the best player on that board, but how much money can we devote to DT?

Bottom line- I think that you take him, go for the talent and the value. Use FA and the 6 picks in rds 2-5 to draft WRs, pass rushers and DBs.

"KB21 wrote:

I was watching some film of Lotulelei play against USC the other night. USC supposedly has the top center prospect available for the draft. Lotulelei was man handling him. I supposed there would be a lot of Dolphins fans upset at drafting a defensive tackle with this pick, but if Lotulelei was available, this would be a no brainer to me. This guy is an impact defender up front. The limited footage I've seen of him makes me think he will be a Haloti Ngata.....

You had me at hello.

half the uninformed fan base would stock up on rotten tomatoes if we took a DT with our first pick, but I'd be grinning from ear to ear if that Samoan beast were somehow still on the board at #12. Star & big Paul Soliai could form a nice bond and really feed off each other, no pun intended. If he escapes the top 3, it's actually possible he could slide to us.

4. Eagles. drafted Fletcher Cox last year. Signed Cullen Jenkins for 5 yr/30M. Have much bigger problems than DT, like Oline.
5. Lions. Suh & Fairley
6. Browns. Rubin & 1st rounder Phil Taylor
7. Cardinals. already have Calais Campbell & 1st rounder Dan Williams. Much bigger problems than Dline.
8. Bills. Dareus & Kyle Williams
9. Jets. just spent 1st rounders on Wilkerson & Coples
10. Titans. pose a problem for us
11. Chargers. have a nice pair of 34DEs in Liuget & Reyes
12. Miami


Question is, if Lotulelei slips through, would you trade a 3rd or 4th to bypass the Titans? Considering the cost to re-sign Starks, I'd be all for trading up a few spots for Lotulelei and using the Starks savings elsewhere, like on a corner to pair with Smith so Marshall can move to safety.

Eh, not in favor of taking him at #12, not that he is a poor player or prospect, more we are loaded with blue collar types, we need playmakers, guys who effect outcomes on any given play and a DT probably is not that guy.

We have enough smash, we need more dash so to speak.

Anyone who does a mock BEFORE all the juniors heave declared and before free agency is a bit of an idiot.

What a god awful mock draft

"Boomer wrote:

Anyone who does a mock BEFORE all the juniors heave declared and before free agency is a bit of an idiot.

Biz side of things Boom, of course the draft is nonsensical, as a biz practice they toss it up there knowing fans will of course click on the link.

"padre31 wrote:

Eh, not in favor of taking him at #12, not that he is a poor player or prospect, more we are loaded with blue collar types, we need playmakers, guys who effect outcomes on any given play and a DT probably is not that guy.

We have enough smash, we need more dash so to speak.

Huh? How the heck do you believe a franchise caliber DT doesn't effect outcomes on any given play? Seems you vastly underrate the impact of the position for some reason.

I like #12, not so much of drafting a 5'8" CB later.

"phinsational wrote:

Huh? How the heck do you believe a franchise caliber DT doesn't effect outcomes on any given play? Seems you vastly underrate the impact of the position for some reason.

To easily handled, just double him and take your chances with Soliai or Odie.

And, this is rarely talked about but DT's bust out at a high rate, this came out during the "draft a Qb!" debates prior to tannehill's arrival, Dorsey, Jackson, Jags took a DT that has not done a whole lot.

Speed on the other hand, can always be useful.

"padre31 wrote:

To easily handled, just double him and take your chances with Soliai or Odie.

And, this is rarely talked about but DT's bust out at a high rate, this came out during the "draft a Qb!" debates prior to tannehill's arrival, Dorsey, Jackson, Jags took a DT that has not done a whole lot.

Speed on the other hand, can always be useful.

Really? That easy huh? :unsure:

I'd be interested in hearing what positions you believe have a greater impact than an elite defensive tackle like Ngata and Wilfork, while keeping in mind who's actually available this draft so that you're not simply making up stuff that isn't applicable.

"padre31 wrote:

Biz side of things Boom, of course the draft is nonsensical, as a biz practice they toss it up there knowing fans will of course click on the link.

Not doubting that. But in terms of wanting to be taken seriously? Get outta here.

A beast DT is just a nightmare to handle. Most QBs do not like pressure from the middle, and a DT from the Ngata/Wilfork mold is just a wrecking ball coming at your QB from the worst place.

That being said, I don't think taking a DT is the best idea. Obviously if the top DE prospects are gone, and you think this guy is a once in a draft talent, then it would be smart. However, there are still possibilities i would explore before taking a DT. Milliner, Te'o and trading back among them.

Honestly, my approach to this offseason is:

1. Do they score Td's?
2. Do they help to score Td's?

I think we've passed the point of "your strength up the middle", we really need more speed and Td production.

And I know I'll be accused of "fantasy football" however when you watched our offense this year you could see it was somewhat out of sync and guys made plays but as Aqua said:

"Extraordinary plays"

We had very little of them, really only Bush and Hartline did so, most of the other pieces on O just got the yds the play was designed to make and no more, we need more dynamism.

"Boomer wrote:

Not doubting that. But in terms of wanting to be taken seriously? Get outta here.

True, but serious vs $$$ when it comes to the draft?

They go for the clicks=$$$

No way we take a DT with the 12th pick when the head coach came out yesterday and admitted there are no playmakers on the team on both sides of the ball and we can't score any points or create turnovers. We need players that can house the bitch.

"Serpico Jones wrote:

No way we take a DT with the 12th pick when the head coach came out yesterday and admitted there are no playmakers on the team on both sides of the ball and we can't score any points or create turnovers. We need players that can house the bitch.

If this guy is really the next Wilfork or Ngata, then he is a type of player to create turnovers.

Plus there are 4 more picks left in the next two rounds to get pretty good WR, CB and S.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

If this guy is really the next Wilfork or Ngata, then he is a type of player to create turnovers.

Plus there are 4 more picks left in the next two rounds to get pretty good WR, CB and S.

I don't like that approach DDupree, it is why we are where we are atm.

Use your highest value resources on guys who score Td's not b/c "gosh, Soliai is a FA in 2014, he sure is expensive, good thing we have so and so"

To much future orientation in the NFL is as bad as not enough future orientation.

We need playmakers, guys who handle the football and make things happen, he could be a great DT but he is not our need.

Look at it this way, Lions have Suh, were did it get them?

"padre31 wrote:

I don't like that approach DDupree, it is why we are where we are atm.

Use your highest value resources on guys who score Td's not b/c "gosh, Soliai is a FA in 2014, he sure is expensive, good thing we have so and so"

To much future orientation in the NFL is as bad as not enough future orientation.

We need playmakers, guys who handle the football and make things happen, he could be a great DT but he is not our need.

Look at it this way, Lions have Suh, were did it get them?

The Lions have Calvin Johnson, where did it get them?

We have good interior defensive linemen, we do not have Ngata or Wilfork. Last I checked, both teams are in the playoffs. Plus there are still 4 more picks in the next two rounds to get people with the hand on the ball. Also there is free agency. It is not like at Miami's 12th pick in the draft that is the ONLY chance to get a person who gets his hand on the ball.

"padre31 wrote:

I don't like that approach DDupree, it is why we are where we are atm.

Use your highest value resources on guys who score Td's not b/c "gosh, Soliai is a FA in 2014, he sure is expensive, good thing we have so and so"

To much future orientation in the NFL is as bad as not enough future orientation.

We need playmakers, guys who handle the football and make things happen, he could be a great DT but he is not our need.

Look at it this way, Lions have Suh, were did it get them?

Look at it this way, Lions have Calvin, where did it get them? I can do this all day long.

Elite DTs don't make your team worse, Pods, and if we lose Starks we could absolutely take an impact player like Lotulelei at DT. WTH does Star have to do with Solia being a FA in 2014?

"phinsational wrote:

Look at it this way, Lions have Calvin, where did it get them? I can do this all day long.

Elite DTs don't make your team worse, Pods, and if we lose Starks we could absolutely take an impact player like Lotulelei at DT. WTH does Star have to do with Solia being a FA in 2014?

The bottom line is, if you are on the clock with the 12th pick and Star Lotulelei is available, you don't pass on him to take Keenan Allen no matter how big your need is at the wide receiver position. Star would be close to the very top of my draft board, period.

"KB21 wrote:

The bottom line is, if you are on the clock with the 12th pick and Star Lotulelei is available, you don't pass on him to take Keenan Allen no matter how big your need is at the wide receiver position. Star would be close to the very top of my draft board, period.

Yup.... and he'd have a greater impact on a per snap basis. Besides, you could use the savings on Starks to add Greg Jennings or even put it towards Mike Wallace. Personally I'd rather have Lotulelei & Jennings than Starks & Allen if we're looking at from a sense of perspective.