I've been dragging my feet to arrive here... at my first full mock draft. This year is infinitely more difficult to project or understand, as the Phins' front office has already made some intriguing moves.
I would have said that our biggest need is to find a run-stuffing, get after the QB compliment to J-Peezy. We still need that.
I would have and still say that we need to add depth to the guard position. With Smiley and Thomas coming off bad injuries and Indukwe & being underwhelming (I'm feeling nice today) we could use depth/starter caliber guards.
I would have also said that we need a cornerback to replace Andre Goodman (you just knew they wouldn't signed him).
I would have told you two months ago that we needed a more ferocious safety to pair with Yeremiah Bell. Well, we got that and more in Gibril Wilson. Resigning Channing Crowder, Vernon Carey, Yeremiah Bell and then pulling in Wilson really solidified both sides of the ball (especially defense - that's some serious lumber).
We also need a big receiver. Not the "True #1" that so many old-school Dolphins fans want year in and out, but a literally I mean a big-bodied possession guy who can catch crossing patterns and jump balls in the endzone.
So with no further ado, here's my first mock draft. Feel free to post comments - in fact please do. It's so quiet around here. Makes me nervous.
First Round
25th Selection: Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers
Why: 6'3" and 218 lbs. Britt is a big and agile target, and though lacking world-class speed he yet can stretch the field because of his height and jumping ability. Ernest Wilford will be traded (mark my words) for some late round pick. The Phins need a big body to throw to, regardless of who's playing quarterback.
Plus the guy can thump as a blocker, which is essential in Miami's run first offense.
Why not someone else? It's true, Britt is a reach here at 25. But I think this is a value pick based on the production the team will get from him. It's a kind of combination pick of value and need. That's why they reach here.
I'm a big fan of Larry English. He's a prototypical pass rushing outside linebacker in the mold of our own J-Peezy or Pittsburgh's James Harrison. The thing is though, can he play in coverage? We have a stud pass rusher in Joey, and a interesting project in Cameron Wake to replace him. What we need is a guy who can both rush the passer and play in space, you know, run with a tight end. So the Phins still need a OLB to compete with Wake and Roth. I'll get to that soon enough.
Oh, and Sintim will be gone. With all the teams switching to a 3-4 defense a guy with his experience and plug-and-play readiness will be gone. English might be gone too.
Don't get me wrong: Larry English, Clint Sintim or Vontae Davis would all be superb picks. A dream scenario could play out with Davis, Barwin and Hakeem Nicks (WR) being our first three picks.
Second Round
2a - 44th Selection (from Washington for JT): Connor Barwin, OLB Cincinnati
Ironic, isn't it? The very pick we got for Jason Taylor will be used to draft... Jason Taylor. Well, that's the hope at least.
At 6'4" and 256 lbs Connor Barwin has the size to play outside linebacker. His 4.66 forty time and outstanding athleticism (how does a 40.5" vertical leap sound?) make him seem like an ideal tight end. That's exactly the story.
Barwin converted from tight end to defensive end his senior year... and tore it up. How does 15.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 7 pass defenses sound? My thoughts exactly.
The Miami Dolphins run a 2-gap read and react 3-4 defense with a typically designated pass rusher. The need is for smart players that can react quickly and overpower blockers. Barwin is ideal. He is a honor student with a high capacity for learning and his freakish athleticism makes him a perfect project for a outside linebacker that can play in space as well as get after the QB.
If his stock continues to rise, the Phins may have to look at packaging a 6th rounder with the 44th to leapfrog some of the other teams looking to go to a 3-4. Some of these other teams might shy away from such a project, but with Paul Pasqualoni on hand and J-Peezy to look after him this might be the slam dunk of the draft.
2b - Sherrod Martin, FS/CB Troy
The 6'1 and 198 lbs Martin had a tremendous combine and just blew the lid off his ascending stock with a very solid pro day down in Alabama (or up there for you lucky ones in Florida). 4.43 forty time and showed incredible ball skills while doing CB cover drills.
What he'll give the Phins is a sure thing. A top flight special teamer if nothing else (bust factor is tiny with Martin) and a starting Pro Bowl caliber corner at best. Versatility is key here again, as Martin could play FS in a pinch if he had to.
With his measurable skills (speed, size and agility) I think he could be a starting corner in short order. If nothing else he could instantly be an ideal form of dime corner.
Demarcus Ware hailed from Troy. As did Leodis McKelvin. Gee, Demarcus Ware. Who drafted him?
DAY 2
Third Round
87th Selection: Kraig Urbik, Guard, Wisconsin
6'5" and 328lbs of corn-fed fury. Urbik failed to do anything at the combine to crack the first day but has first day size. He supposedly is a decently developed player with a solid explosion off the ball and his long arms and solid footwork make him able to easily deal with physical defenders. Apparently the knock is that he has trouble with his footwork in space against speedier defenders. He isn't our left tackle, though, so I'm not worried.
This guy has "Parcells" written all over him. He will compete with Donald Thomas and Justin Smiley.
Fourth Round
122nd Selection: Terrence Taylor, DT Michigan
At 6' and 306lbs Terrence Taylor is a similar player as current NT Jason Ferguson. Taylor, like Ferguson, is described as deceptively stout and powerful. He eats up blockers and gets a solid push into the backfield. Had the top bench at the combine, slapping up 37 reps with 225.
His weakness is perhaps in pass situations and needs some help with technique. Ferguson and Sparano are great teachers.
NFL.com described Taylor as a "Fire Hydrant run stopper..." That sounds good to me. The big sell with him is that he might be able to play either end or NT. That's the versatility the Phins need, especially since Vonnie's gone. Surprisingly, I don't think the Phins will go with another DT in the draft. Word is they like what they've seen from last year's 6th rounder, Lionel Dotson.
If Taylor's gone the Phins might roll the dice on the talented but off-the-field troubled Chris Baker, whose 6'2" and 326 frame (and very fast timed speed) give him big potential on the inside.
Fifth Round
153rd Selection: DeAngelo Smith, CB Cinncinati
Parcells & Co won't be scared to go to the well twice here. Barwin first and then later on the second day Smith. At 5'11 and 194 lbs smith is a intriguing late round pick, whose biggest knock is lack of elite straight line speed.
Still he has explosiveness and good technique and the Phins could use another CB to groom. These free agent ones they've brought in this off season are fallback plans. Nothing else.
Sixth Round
184th Selection: Traded to Dallas in 2008 for NT Jason Ferguson. Good trade, eh?
Seventh Round - The Who The "F" Knows Round
The Dolphins have three selections in the 7th round. I guarantee some of these will be packaged up for a jump at sometime in the draft. It's Parcells style.
7a - 196th Selection: Ray Feinga, G BYU
6'4" 326 lbs guard/tackle prospect. A developmental guy with solid measurables.
7b - 215th Selection: Kory Sheets (or best available running back)
The 5'11" 206 lbs Sheets will probably be gone by this point, and perhaps even to someone like the Phins in the 6th (maybe even 5th - I don't know how his pro day went). He is a place holder her, for the RB the Phins will take at some point in the day. Sheets is a solid back that can do it all, though Parcells would ideally like someone with another five to ten lbs on their frame. Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are in the last year of their contracts. Ricky and the offseason is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
7c - 220th Selection: Brian Toal, FB/OLB Boston College
6' 230 lbs guy who is coming off a slight injury. A potential special teams guru. Toal loves to run with wreckless abandon.
* Trade Note *
I believe the Phins will package some of the OLB depth (namely Quentin Moses or Charlie Anderson) with a 7th rounder to try and get into the 4th or 5th round to grab a running back. Don't be surprised if Matt Roth gets traded either. For something at least resembling an early 4th. Roth is good and would be a big contributor to one of these teams switching to a 3-4.
Resigning Brown is no sure thing and Ricky is hard to gauge. They will not however, pass up on a potential lineman in order to do this. If the bargain's there they'll go for it. The Phins might even shock everyone with a bluer (purplish color) chip selection.
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