Now that the bulk of Free Agency signings are complete for
now, we need to turn our attention on the 2013 NFL Draft. Following the formula: P – C – L + F = D, where P = Players
presently on the team, C = Players the team plans on cutting no matter what, L
= Free Agents loss, F = Free Agents picked up, and D = Draft Selections by
position, the Dolphins needs can be assessed as this.
Initially their greatest needs were WR, CB, TE, OG, OT, S,
DT, back-up QB and DE. In Free Agency
they obtained 2 WR’s, 1 TE, 1 OG, resigned 1 WR, resigned a S, resigned a
back-up QB, franchised a DT. They also
replaced 2 of the LB’s and a DT.
So this is how their needs shape up now:
WR – Need is greatly reduced though a WR in the late rounds
would be helpful
TE – Need is still great since the Free Agent TE is only
signed for 1 year and the team needs 2 really good TE’s. Second highest need.
CB – With the signing of Grimes, the need drops but another
CB is still needed. CB’s in this draft
is one of the deepest positions, so a good choice can be picked up in the late
2nd or 3rd round.
OG and OT (Right) – Another need that has to be address
early in the draft with emphasis on the OT.
S – Since the Dolphins resigned a Safety on a 1 year deal,
selecting a Safety is the 3rd highest priority.
DT – Franchising their DT was critical. If they can’t resign him for a long term
deal, then they may consider drafting a DT in a lower round, though they could
wait to 2014 to get a much higher rated one.
DE – Since a second shut down DE is a need, considering that
several other high profile positions have been address, it would not be a
surprise to make this a 1st round pick. If not, then it is expected to be one of the
first 6 picks made.
QB – This position is covered for the next 2 years, though a
late round selection may be good to create competition.
So how should the Dolphins Draft:
1st Round – CB or DE
2nd Round 1st Pick – TE
2nd Round – S, CB (if not picked already) or OG/OT
3rd Round – S, CB or OG/OT, whichever they didn’t
get in the 2nd round, possibly a DE (if no selected already)
3rd Round – DT, CB or DE (or S if not picked up
before)
4th Round – WR or DT (if one hasn’t been
selected)
From the 5th Round, if not already selected (or
an extra person at a position is needed):
QB, DE, TE, RB, and best available players left on the board.
CB
Dee Millner 1
Xavier
Rhodes 1
Desmond
Trufant 2
Jonathan
Banks 2
Jordan Poyer 3
TE
Tyler Eifert 1 or 2
(but is high for 1, may trade down and still select)
Zach Ertz 2
Nike Kasa 5
OG/OT
Jonathan Cooper G 1
Chance Warmack
G 1
D.J. Fluker T 1
Justin Pugh
G/T 3
Terron
Armstead T/G 3
Kyle Long T/G 3
Hugh Thornton
G 3
Brennan Williams 4
WR
Da’Rick
Rogers 3
Ryan Swope 4
Marquise
Goodwin 4
Steadman
Bailey 4
Cobi
Hamilton 5
Denard
Robinson 6
S
Matt Elam 2
Eric Reid 2
Jonathan Cyprian 2
Phillip Thomas 3
Shamarko Thomas 3
Jordan Kovacs UFA
DE
Ezekiel Ansah 1
Cornelius Washington 4
David Bass 5
My hope for the draft
would be as follows (assuming no draft trades):
1st Round - Bjoern Werner or Ezekiel Ansah DE,
and if not Chance Warmack G or D.J.
Fluker T
2nd
Round 1st Pick - Zach Ertz TE
2nd
Round 2nd Pick - Jonathan Banks CB
3rd
Round 1st Pick - Justin Pugh G/T or Terron Armstead T/G
3rd
Round 2nd Pick - Phillip Thomas or Shamarko Thomas S
4th Round - Steadman
Bailey WR
5th
Round - Nike Kasa
TE
Alternatively:
1st Round - Xavier
Rhodes CB
2nd
Round 1st Pick - Zach Ertz TE
2nd
Round 2nd Pick - Justin Pugh G/T or Terron Armstead T/G
3rd
Round 1st Pick - Jordan Poyer CB
3rd
Round 2nd Pick - Phillip Thomas or Shamarko Thomas S
4th Round - Steadman
Bailey WR
5th
Round - David
Bass DE
But what I really would like to see is the Dolphins trade down from the #12 draft pick to around #20 and pick up an extra 2nd round pick. The 1st round pick would be TE Tyler Eifert, and the three 2nd round picks would be for a CB, T/G and DE.
