2013 DRAFT PICKS AFTER FREE AGENCY - DOLPHINS

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 2^nd or 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 1^st 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:

1^st Round – CB or DE

2^nd Round 1^st Pick – TE

2^nd Round – S, CB (if not picked already) or OG/OT

3^rd Round – S, CB or OG/OT, whichever they didn’t get in the 2^nd round, possibly a DE (if no selected already)

3^rd Round – DT, CB or DE (or S if not picked up before)

4^th Round – WR or DT (if one hasn’t been selected)

From the 5^th 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

Bjoern Werner                1

Ezekiel Ansah                  1

Datone Jones                   1

Cornelius Washington       4

David Bass                       5

My hope for the draft would be as follows (assuming no draft trades):

1^st Round - Bjoern Werner or Ezekiel Ansah DE, and if not Chance Warmack G or D.J. Fluker T    

2^nd Round 1^st Pick - Zach Ertz TE

2^nd Round 2^nd Pick - Jonathan Banks CB

3^rd Round 1^st Pick - Justin Pugh G/T or Terron Armstead T/G

3^rd Round 2^nd Pick - Phillip Thomas or Shamarko Thomas S

4^th Round - Steadman Bailey WR

5^th Round - Nike Kasa TE

Alternatively:

1^st Round - Xavier Rhodes CB                     

2^nd Round 1^st Pick - Zach Ertz TE

2^nd Round 2^nd Pick - Justin Pugh G/T or Terron Armstead T/G

3^rd Round 1^st Pick - Jordan Poyer CB

3^rd Round 2^nd Pick - Phillip Thomas or Shamarko Thomas S

4^th Round - Steadman Bailey WR

5^th 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.