What should Dolphins prioritize in first round besides QB and left tackle? Some insight
In determining what positions the Dolphins should address with their three first-round picks, two are obvious: quarterback and offensive tackle.
But the third position? That’s where reasonable people can make the argument for a half dozen different areas.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus, on his weekly segment on WSVN-Fox 7, made the case for a pass rusher with that third pick in the first round, 26th overall.
“The Dolphins have to come away from the first round with three things: a quarterback, an offensive tackle and another pass rusher,” Rosenhaus said. “I think it will be that order — quarterback, offensive tackle, pass rusher with their three first-round picks.”
But you could also make the case for a running back or safety at 26. You could also make the case for a defensive tackle or guard being a need to address early, though there might not be a natural fit at either spot at 26.
And what if one of the top receivers or Oklahoma inside linebacker Kenneth Murray drops to 26th? That, too, would be tempting.
Here are the pros and cons for using one of your three first-rounders on any of those seven positions, excluding the two obvious ones (quarterback and offensive tackle):
PASS RUSHER
The pros: The Dolphins should have some decent choices at No. 26, with potential options including Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos, Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, Wisconsin’s Zack Baun and Auburn end/tackle Marlon Davidson, who had 7.5 sacks last season and is a player the Dolphins like. And LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson would be tempting if he somehow fell to 26.
The cons: NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says Epenesa “has average instincts against the run.”
Pro Football Focus insists Gross-Matos is being overrated, ranking him as just the 68th-best prospect and bemoaning the “lack of consistent high-level production. When you have dominant tools as Gross-Matos does, there should be at least single-game flashes of dominance at the college level.”
Also, the Dolphins might be able to find a comparable pass rusher at 39 or 56 or 70 among Utah’s Bradley Anae, UF’s Jabari Zuniga, Tennessee’s Darrell Taylor, Davidson, Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara, Michigan’s Josh Uche, UF’s Jonathan Greenard and Boise State’s Curtis Weaver, among others. The Dolphins have shown some level of interest in most of those players; Taylor is considered on the rise.
RUNNING BACK
The pros: By taking a running back at 26, Miami would almost assuredly get first choice among an impressive group of Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The cons: You could assuredly get one of those four backs at No. 39, and there’s a good chance either Swift, Dobbins or Edwards-Helaire will be there at that spot. Miami invited those three players to team headquarters (suggesting serious interest), but only Dobbins made it to Dolphins offices before NFL predraft visits were prohibited because of coronavirus. You also could get Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, FSU’s Cam Akers or Boston College’s AJ Dillon later on Day Two.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said he believes Kansas City, at 32, is the only team that might take a running back in the first round.
SAFETY
The pros: By taking a safety at No 26, Miami would have a good chance of landing either Alabama’s Xavier McKinney (who is Minkah Fitzpatrick-like in his versatility) or skilled Minnesota safety/cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. One of those players instantly would become the favorite to become Miami’s fifth defensive back in nickel packages.
The cons: If you wait until 39 for a safety, you might be able to get one of three other quality prospects — LSU’s Grant Delpit, Cal’s Ashtyhn Davis or Southern Illinois’ Jeremy Chinn. And there’s no assurance both McKinney or Winfield would be off the board by 39, either.
WIDE RECEIVER
The pros: If an elite talent such as LSU’s Justin Jefferson or Alabama’s Henry Ruggs slides to 26, you can make the case to take him. Ruggs averaged 17.5 yards per catch in his career and Jefferson had eye-popping numbers last season: 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 TDs last season.
A three-wide receiver group of DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and the speedy 6-0 Ruggs or elite 6-3 Jefferson would be intoxicating.
The cons: Can you really justify a receiver at 26 with needs elsewhere? And with the deepest group of wide receivers in years, you likely can get a quality receiver at 39 or 56 or 70 if you want one.
Baylor’s Denzel Mims, TCU’s Jalen Reagor and Penn State’s KJ Hamler are among potential second-day options of interest to Miami. And keep an eye on Memphis’ Antonio Gibson, who has 14 TDs on 77 career touches. He excelled last season as both a receiver (38 receptions, 735 yards, 19.3 average, eight touchdowns) and runner (33 for 369, 11.2 average).
INSIDE LINEBACKER
The pros: Oklahoma’s Murray — if there at 26 - would be very good value and he has the ability to play inside or outside linebacker. He filled the boxscore last season with 102 tackles, including 17 for loss, four sacks and four passes defended.
The cons: This isn’t a priority position. Miami already has Jerome Baker and two skilled linebackers who can play inside and outside in Kyle Van Noy and Raekwon McMillan, plus Sam Eguavoen, who played better late in the year.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The pros: Miami badly needs a third rotational tackle to join Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins, and Auburn end/tackle Davidson cannot be ruled out because the Dolphins like him.
The cons: There will be options at 39 or 56 or 70, potentially Alabama’s Raekwon Davis and Utah’s Leki Fotu — two players who have attracted Dolphins interest.
GUARD
The bottom line: Likely nobody at 26 worth considering, unless Miami took Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland as a second offensive line selection in the second round, with the intent of using Cleveland at tackle or guard. Michigan guard/center Cesar Ruiz could get some consideration.
OTHER OPTIONS
If Miami considers a cornerback at No. 26, Alabama’s Trevon Diggs would be an option.... And what about two offensive tackles in Round 1? That’s not inconceivable if Miami takes a left tackle earlier and comes back with Georgia right tackle Isaiah Wilson at 26, though that’s higher than most have Wilson going.
CHATTER
A couple of points being made about the Dolphins by national reporters and analysts in the past two days:
We have been highly skeptical about the chances of the Dolphins moving up from No. 5, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said: “The issue is who is moving up right now? To date, talks have been slow and striking a deal has been challenging. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen in the next 72 hours.
“The issue is everybody believes the Dolphins at 5 and Chargers at 6 have some level of interest in a quarterback, but they’re not willing to go up and leapfrog the other because I think they like all the quarterbacks there. So there’s no real rush for them to go up which weakens the market for the Lions and Giants [at No. 3 and 4] unless there’s another team waiting in ambush.”
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said: “I don’t trust what you keep hearing out of Miami. It’s too much of the same thing — Justin Herbert, Justin Herbert. How [often] have you heard about a team eyeballing a player, and it goes down just like that? My head’s about to explode on that one.”
Mortensen said teams that are “scared” of taking Tagovailoa “just operate as scared.”
ESPN’s Louis Riddick said: “If I’m Miami at 5 or the Chargers at 6, I’m waiting. For Tua, it’s not worth moving up because of the risk associated with his durabality. And with Justin, I just don’t think he’s that good. I don’t think he’s worth moving up for.”
And MMQB’s Albert Breer said Dolphins special assistant Dan Marino is a Herbert fan and adds “I haven’t talked to anyone who thinks Dolphins are taking Tua. That might mean they’re taking him.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
