Miami Dolphins reaching out to top kickers, eyeing more running backs in NFL Draft
A six-pack of Miami Dolphins NFL Draft notes on a Sunday:
▪ Last season, Dolphins coaches kept saying how much confidence they had in second-year kicker Jason Sanders, even though he missed seven of 30 field-goal attempts last season.
That 76.7 percent accuracy rate represented a big drop from his 18 for 20 accuracy on field goals (90 percent) as a rookie.
And perhaps the Dolphins remain intent on keeping Sanders as their kicker, without competition this summer.
But they’ve certainly invested considerable time on kickers in this draft.
According to a league source, the Dolphins have done multiple interviews in recent weeks - including a FaceTime session - with Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, considered one of the best draft-eligible kickers.
Blankenship converted 27 of 33 field goals at Georgia last season, never missing inside of 30 yards. He made 6 of 9 field goals of 50 yards or more in his career, including a 55-yarder in the January 2018 Rose Bowl.
By contrast, Sanders was 3 for 5 from 50-plus last season and 4 for 6 in his two-year career.
Seventy-eight percent of Blankenship’s kickoffs went for touchbacks over his final three seasons. Sanders had a 73 percent touchback rate last season.
For his career, Blankenship was 200 for 200 on extra points and 80 for 97 on field goals.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said of Blankenship: “Charismatic kicker and fan favorite -- as long as he’s making his kicks. His thick, black-rimmed glasses have become his trademark, but so too are booming touchbacks and a big leg to hit 50-yard field goals with plenty of ball flight leftover. Blankenship rarely mishits the football, but does need to make sure he elevates drive kicks consistently. He should be the first kicker off the board.”
Sanders, a former seventh-round pick, missed only one extra point last season and converted 7 of 8 field goal attempts in a 22-21 loss to the Jets.
Miami also has been in contact with Utah State’s Dominic Eberle, another of the draft’s top kickers.
He went 21 for 24 on field goals last season and made all 167 extra points in his career. He was 4 for 7 on his career from 50-plus yards, with a long of 52.
▪ The Dolphins did a FaceTime session with Duke defensive end/tackle Trevon McSwain, considered one of the under-the-radar linemen in this draft. The 6-6, 285-pounder had 35 tackles, including seven for loss, and four sacks last season. He’s likely a day three pick or priority free agent option.
“I’m a quick defensive linemen that’s going to try and beat you off the ball,” he told USA Today. “I enjoy working the edge, as well. I’m that type of pass rusher.”
▪ Miami also has reached out to two proven Southeastern Conference defenders for FaceTime sessions or interviews: Auburn edge player Nick Coe (they’ve spent a lot of time with him) and LSU defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence.
Coe started only one game and played in nine last season (15 tackles, including three for loss) and missed time with a wrist injury, but he had 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2018. Miami sees something it likes in the 6-5, 280 pounder.
Lawrence, the 6-2, 308-pound defensive tackle, had 28 tackles (six for loss), 2.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 12 games last season, earning second-team All-SEC honors.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said Lawrence “plays with dog mentality and is ready to turn any rep into a street fight if he needs to. Lawrence’s leadership and toughness stand out on the defensive side of the ball. If his medicals check out, he could become a solid rotational defensive lineman.” He missed time with an ankle injury last year and had knee surgery in spring 2019.
▪ Local attorney Jeff Ostrow said 25 of 32 teams have called about Gators receiver Freddie Swain (38 catches-517 yards-13.6 average last season), but not the Dolphins. Among Gators, I would expect Dolphins interest in defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga (a potential day-two pick), and linebacker Jonathan Greenard (10 sacks last season) is also a possibility for Miami.
Miami reached out to UF cornerback CJ Henderson, who’s expected to go somewhere between Miami’s picks at 5 and 18. Receivers Van Jefferson and Tyrie Cleveland and running back Lamical Perrine are third-day options. And the Dolphins checked in with Gators recever Josh Hammond, who had 27 catches for 346 yards last season and a 76-yard TD run vs. Kentucky; Armando Salguero has more on Hammond here.
FSU’s and UCF’s class aren’t particularly good. Miami reached out to FSU defensive back Lavonta Taylor, a former five-star recruit. (We’ll have more on UM’s class this week.)
I found it interesting that agent Drew Rosenhaus said on his weekly WSVN-Fox 7 segment that FIU quarterback James Morgan - who is not a Rosenhaus client - could be the first player from a Florida university to be drafted. Miami has shown a lot of interest in Morgan, but there’s probably no room for a second rookie quarterback for the Dolphins if they draft one in the first round.
▪ Add Maryland’s Anthony McFarland and Cincinnati’s Michael Warren to the select group of mid-round running backs that Miami has contacted.
The 5-9 McFarland ran 114 times for 614 yards last season (5.4 average) with eight touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 126 yards (7.4) average.
Zierlein said of McFarland: “A high-ankle sprain may have been at the root of his unimpressive 2019 tape, as he showed a little better burst and tackle-breaking ability in 2018. He appears to have low-end backup potential, but it’s worth noting that some NFL teams are much higher on him.”
Warren, also 5-9 but 28 pounds heavier than McFarland at 226, ran 261 times for 1,265 yards (4.8 average) and 14 TDs last season, while catching 21 for 153 (7.3).
Zierlein’s take: “While he lacks the burst to consistently gain yards outside the tackle box, he should be able to keep doing his thing between the tackles thanks to vision, footwork, balance and power. He has a shot as an early down backup with short-yardage ability who can grab a catch here and there.”
I won’t be surprised if Miami uses two of its 14 picks on running backs.
▪ Quick stuff: One small school player the Dolphins have done a lot of work on and expressed interest in: Valdosta State offensive tackle Brandon Kemp, a potential priority free agent signing after the draft…. Before the pandemic shut down pro days, Miami dispatched a personnel department official to interview Oregon State’s Blake Brandel, a four-year starter, primarily at left tackle.... The Dolphins have maintained contact with Michigan starting right guard Michael Onwenu, a potential Day 3 pick.
Here’s my Friday Dolphins six-pack with lots of nuggets.
Here’s my Friday Dolphins-flavored piece on inside linebackers in the draft, with links to my entire series with a Dolphins-flavored look at every position in the draft.
And here’s my Friday piece on where the NBA season stands and what Adam Silver said in his Friday evening media call.
This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 10:36 AM.
