A look at one position where the Miami Dolphins are solid but could use more in NFL Draft
With more pressing needs elsewhere, inside linebacker should be low on the list of Dolphins’ priorities.
But with 14 picks, Miami can afford to augment its core there, a group that includes inside linebackers Jerome Baker and Sam Eguavoen and at least two players — Kyle Van Noy and Raekwon McMillan — who can play both inside and out.
Baker did some good things last season and has the trust of the coaching staff. But the goal always would be to have a Pro Bowl player at the position and Baker isn’t that — at least not yet — two years into his career.
Exploring the inside linebacker options in next week’s NFL Draft:
▪ Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray: He had 102 tackles (including 17 for loss) last season, plus four sacks and four passes defensed. He would be an option at 18 or 26, though as we’ve noted, Miami has at least six needs more pressing (offensive tackle, defensive tackle, quarterback, guard, safety, a young edge rusher).
But even though the 6-2 Murray is only 234 pounds, some believe he can play inside or outside — which would be an asset to a Dolphins team that values versatility.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said he could see the Dolphins taking him at No. 18.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believes Murray “would be best served to play outside and off the ball, where he would be afforded clean sight lines to attack with speed. Murray is at his best when he’s free to chase and make plays to the perimeter. He closes in a heartbeat and he is an explosive tackler. He is very athletic in coverage versus running backs.”
Kiper has him 24th in his mock draft, calling him a “stellar athlete” and tackling machine.
▪ LSU’s Patrick Queen. Would be an option, albeit a surprising one, at 26. Kiper slots him 28th.
Last season, Queen had 85 tackles, including 12 for loss, plus three sacks, an interception and three passes defensed. And in the national championship game against Clemson, he had eight tackles (including 2.5 for loss) and half a sack.
At 6-1 and 227 pounds, Queen “is an undersized linebacker with outstanding burst, instincts and coverage ability,” Jeremiah said. “He is a very dynamic blitzer. He does get uprooted at times because of his size, but he usually finds a way to beat blockers to spots.”
▪ Texas Tech’s Jordyn Brooks. At 6-0 and 240 pounds, Brooks was named All-Big 12 after producing 108 tackles — including 20 for loss (ranking in the top 10 nationally) — and three sacks in 11 starts. He missed time with a shoulder injury during the season.
He’s Kiper’s No. 3 inside linebacker and could be an option at 56 or in the third round for Miami. “He’s a potential future starter as an inside linebacker in even or odd fronts, but concerns with coverage duties could impact how teams see him as an every-down linebacker,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said.
▪ LSU’s Jacob Phillips: Had 113 tackles (including 7.5 for loss) and a sack in LSU’s run to a national championship. Kiper’s fourth-ranked inside linebacker is a mid-round option for Miami at 6-3, 229 pounds.
Zierlein said “Phillips is a reliable option but lacks the alpha field demeanor and explosive athleticism teams look for. He has backup talent and should step into a special teams role quickly.”
▪ Ohio State’s Malik Harrison: Was named an AP third-team All-American last season after producing 75 tackles (including 16.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and four passes defensed.
Zierlein said Harrison’s “instincts are just average but his physical traits even it out on most snaps. He’s big and tough with the potential to become a good starter inside or as a 4-3 strong-side linebacker.”
Harrison’s a potential mid-round option and would give Miami three Ohio State linebackers on its roster, joining Baker and McMillan.
▪ Oregon’s Troy Dye: Kiper’s No. 5 inside linebacker led the Ducks in tackles for the fourth straight year in 2019, finishing with 84 (9.5 for loss), plus 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
At 6-3 and 231 pounds, “he has three-down talent with the aptitude to cover or blitz and is in line to go from plus-backup to eventual starter if he can keep good weight on his frame,” Zierlein said.
▪ Wyoming’s Logan Wilson: At 6-2 and 241 pounds, Wilson was named third-team AP All-American after producing 104 tackles last season, including 9.5 for loss, one sack and three interceptions. He was a team captain and has good coverage skills, which the Dolphins value.
“He should be a core special teams member early, but possesses the tangibles and intangibles to become a productive pro as an inside or SAM [strong-side] linebacker,” Zierlein said.
▪ California’s Evan Weaver: Was named first-team All-American after leading the nation with an absurd 182 tackles in 13 starts (including 103 solo tackles — 20 more than the second-place finisher in solo tackles, Colorado’s Nate Landman). He also had 2.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
At 6-2 and 237 pounds, Weaver “certainly doesn’t look the part of All-American inside ‘backer in the uniform, but he lives for football and plays every snap with urgency,” Zierlein said.
▪ Purdue’s Markus Bailey: He had 115 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a junior but was limited to four games last season (14 tackles, one sack) because of a knee injury. The Dolphins have reached out to him.
The 6-0, 235-pounder has good play strength, but as Zierlein noted, “knee injuries in 2015 and 2019 might hurt his draft standing a little bit. But he has middle-round talent as a quality three-down backup.”
▪ UM’s Shaq Quarterman: Was named first-team all ACC last season after leading the Hurricanes with 107 tackles (15.5 for loss), one sack and five pass breakups. He measured 6-0, 234 pounds at the NFL Combine.
“Quarterman is durable and dependable in the middle of the defense, but he lacks NFL range and has below-average short-area agility and quickness as open-field tackler,” Zierlein said.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on edge rushers in the NFL Draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored look at interior linemen in the draft.
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 the top running backs available in the draft.
Here’s my Dolphins-flavored piece on some of the second-tier quarterbacks in the draft.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 1:24 PM.
