Miami Dolphins eyeing more edge defenders in draft after adding several in free agency
Three months ago, finding multiple edge defenders would have ranked high on any Miami Dolphins’ shopping list for next week’s NFL Draft.
While the Dolphins ideally would like to emerge with at least one edge player by the middle of next week’s draft, it’s not as pressing a need as it was two months ago, with the free-agent additions of defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah and Kyle Van Noy, who can line up in multiple linebacker spots.
Exploring Miami’s best “edge” options on the first two days of the draft:
▪ Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons (102 tackles, including 16 for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions last season): He can be an edge player if you want, or be used at inside linebacker, slot corner or a hybrid safety/linebacker role. Basically, his versatility allows him to be whatever you want him to be.
He’s only an option if Miami takes him at No. 5 instead of a quarterback, left tackle or Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 238 pounds and has great film from the past two seasons,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said Simmons has “rare length, speed and versatility to create mismatches for the offense, depending upon alignment. He has a bachelor’s at three positions (slot corner, safety, linebacker).”
▪ LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson (6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss last season):
He’s the first-round edge player (a 254-pound linebacker, specifically) who has been linked most often to Miami, with draft analysts consistently slotting him between 15 and 26. “After Chase Young, he’s the best edge defender in this draft,” said Kiper, who slots him 16th.
But... “He has yet to figure out how to use his length to his advantage on a consistent basis,” NFL Net’s Daniel Jeremiah said. “Chaisson is more athlete than football player right now, but he has all of the raw tools to be a dominant force at the next level.”
But here’s the conundrum for Miami: He’s not consistently stout against the run. As Zierlein said: “He’s not a physical run defender and might be a liability early in his career against power” even while projecting him as “an impact pass-rusher with Pro-Bowl potential.” So Chaisson at 18 would be a bit of a surprise to me.
▪ Wisconsin’s Zack Baun (12.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss last season):
The disparity in projections is notable, with Kiper placing him 23rd in his mock, and Jeremiah rating him no better than 47th.
Jeremiah calls him a “a slightly undersized outside linebacker with excellent athleticism and versatility, very good as a back-side run defender because of his burst and effort.”
NFL.com’s Zierlein notes he’s “fluid dropping into coverage, scheme-diverse and has high-impact potential.”
The concern is the size (238 pounds), but the production and athleticism make him an option at 26 for Miami and tempting at 39 if there. Miami already has two Wisconsin edge defenders in Vince Biegel and Andrew Van Ginkel.
▪ Auburn’s Marlon Davidson (6.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss last season):
Kiper has him going 64th; it’s highly questionable whether he would be there at 70. Perhaps Miami considers him at 39 or 56.
Jeremiah, who has Davidson slotted 33rd, notes: “He typically lined up at defensive end for the Tigers, but also possesses the ability to slide inside [at 303 pounds]. As a pass rusher, he is devastating when he has a runway.”
He was very good against the run last season, but NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said ”getting over the hump from good backup to starter might take time. Davidson has been durable and his play consistent, but he fails to really stand out in the shadow of teammate Derrick Brown.”
Dolphins coach Brian Flores and defensive coordinator Josh Boyer spent time with Davidson and other top Auburn defenders during a private Dolphins classroom-type seminar March 5 on the Auburn campus. His size and ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line would make him appealing to Miami.
▪ Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos (9.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss last season):
Projections range anywhere from Miami’s pick at 26 to the Dolphins’ pick at 39. Kiper slots him 29th. Jeremiah has him 38th, noting “he is a very productive pass rusher.”
But as is the concern with Chaisson, Gross-Matos - a 6-5, 266-pound defensive end - “does need to improve against the run.” That could be a red flag for Miami.
The Dolphins wanted to meet with him before Penn State’s since-canceled Pro Day.
▪ Iowa’s EJ Epenesa (10.5, 11.5 sacks past two seasons):
Originally considered a mid-first rounder, Epenesa has now settled in lower in most mock drafts, with Kiper slotting him 40th.
“Epenesa has first-round tape, but he’s not going to be for every team,” Kiper said. “He’s not a quick-twitch edge rusher; in fact, at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, he might be better at end in a 3-4 in the NFL. Still, I trust the tape, and I don’t think he’ll drop out of the first 40 picks.”
▪ Boise State’s Curtis Weaver (13.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss):
The 6-4, 265-pound defensive end is projected as a second-rounder and could be in the discussion at 56 if Miami feels comfortable with his run defense. Miami has arranged an interview session with him.
Zierlein’s take: “Stand-up end whose production as a pass rusher must be balanced out by his below-average ability and athleticism in stopping the run. He plays with football intelligence, but his level of NFL success could be determined by whether his skill can overcome below-average explosiveness.”
Kiper sees Weaver dropping to the third round, noting a lot of his stats came against bad teams.
▪ Utah’s Bradley Anae (13 sacks, 14 tackles for loss last season):
Jeremiah has the 6-3, 257-pound defensive end rated 48th - between Miami’s picks at 39 and 56.
As a pass rusher, Jeremiah said he’s “very productive. He doesn’t possess a dynamic first step, but he anticipates the snap count and shows the ability to win early in the down. Against the run, he can hold the point of attack routinely, but he struggles when isolated in space versus athletic backs and quarterbacks.”
▪ Alabama’s Terrell Lewis (6.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss in 10 games in 2019):
The 6-5, 262-pound linebacker has dropped from a potential pick in the 20s to a likely late second- or third-round pick because of durability issues.
Zierlein puts it this way: “The evaluation requires both projection and a small leap of faith due to durability concerns after he missed most of two full seasons. He needs to fill out his long, athletic build with more girth and muscle to help set stronger edges and hold his ground against downhill rushing attacks. He’s played in just 26 games, so he’s less technically sound than most Alabama defenders at this stage, but he was still productive and showed growth as a player in-season. With more coaching and development as a rusher, he should be able to pair traits with skill to become a future NFL starter, provided his health issues are in the past.”
▪ Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara (five sacks in nine games before a broken fibula ended his season):
Most have the 6-4, 250-pound end as a second-round pick (Kiper has him 54th), but PFF slots him 19th, asserting: “There’s currently not enough hype surrounding Okwara. A freakish athlete with absurd bend and flexibility that defensive line coaches salivate over at the next level.”
The big concern, as Zierlein notes, is “he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to play the run.” That would concern the Dolphins.
▪ Tennessee’s Darrell Taylor (8.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss last season):
The 6-4, 267-pounder can play linebacker or defensive end, and Zierlein said he’s suited to a 3-4 or 4-3 but “needs to transform from a set-it-and-forget-it roadblock into a shed-and-tackle playmaker. The toolbox has plenty in it, but additional development as a pass rusher might be the difference between functional backup or dangerous starter.”
▪ Michigan’s Josh Uche (7.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss last season):
Pro Football Focus said he’s the ideal fit for Miami’s defense.
The 6-1, 245-pounder from Miami’s Columbus High is something of a riddle, as Zierlein suggested, because “balancing Uche’s skill set and athletic potential against his inexperience and lack of instincts makes him a challenging evaluation. The difference in becoming a pro linebacker instead of a short-term, hybrid athlete will depend largely upon improving his second-level instincts and finding an eclectic defensive mind to unlock his potential.”
▪ The Dolphins recently have reached out to a bunch of potential third-day edge defenders, including South Carolina’s DJ Wonnum, Auburn’s Nick Coe, Mississippi State’s Chauncey Rivers and others.
Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ draft options at wide receiver.
Here’s my Wednesday night Dolphins 6-pack with lots of news, including more Dolphins contact with Justin Herbert and a potential second-round running back.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on the top cornerbacks in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on the top defensive tackles in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on the top offensive tackles in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on the top safeties available in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on some of the second-tier quarterbacks in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on the top running backs in the draft.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 12:07 PM.
