DKphin
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A possible question of the Dolphins draft is coming into focus from mid-February:
Do they fortify a weak front-defensive seven or go for a potentially great tight end in the University of Miami’s David Njoku?
Put me down for potential greatness – at any position. The Dolphins have some good players but finding great ones is the priority. The question will be how to line up free agency and other roster-building moves to make that an option.
But let’s be clear: This
he Dolphins have weapons at wide receiver, but they don't have a player like Njoku on the roster. He will be listed with the tight ends, but this is a 6-foot-4 guy who can run in the 4.5 range and set up and run past defenders. He also has the size to go up and get the ball over smaller players (that's most anyone in the secondary). QB Ryan Tannehill should be even better in his second year with coach Adam Gase, and Njoku would help.
We’ll see where this goes. It’s still early. But drafting 22[SUP]nd[/SUP], the Dolphins could have the option of Njoku and, say, Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. The mock drafts of ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have the Dolphins taking Njoku.
Wrote Kiper: “The Dolphins have weapons at wide receiver, but they don't have a player like Njoku on the roster. He will be listed with the tight ends, but this is a 6-foot-4 guy who can run in the 4.5 range and set up and run past defenders. He also has the size to go up and get the ball over smaller players (that's most anyone in the secondary). QB Ryan Tannehill should be even better in his second year with coach Adam Gase, and Njoku would help.”
Wrote McShay: “Njoku comes with loads of upside, thanks to rare athleticism for the position and big-play ability, including 16.2 yards per reception. There's not much of a gap between Njoku and Alabama's O.J. Howard for the No. 1 TE ranking. Both Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims are set to be free agents for the Dolphins, so the fit would make sense for Njoku to stay in Miami.”
You don’t think Adam Gase wants a toy like that on his offense? In his Denver offense, tight end Julius Thomas caught 108 passes and 24 touchdowns in 2013 and 2014.
The question becomes how executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier navigate the next two months for the possibility of getting Njoku. Because this is difficult.
First, they couldn’t offer Dion Sims good money to sign. They’d need that money to invest in the defense if they pass up on a first-round pick. That would run the risk of not getting a tight end at all, if Njoku is gone (and Alabama’s O.J. Howard, as well).
Anyone who saw Njoku play at Miami knows the athleticism and big-play capability. He needs to improve his pass-catching, of course. But that would come. The tough question for the Dolphins is how to set up the off-season so you have a chance to get Njoku without banking on him.