A short intro: I have tried to use a fairly systematic approach that involves matching needs with values to create this, my first mock draft. While I understand those preaching BPA, there rarely is a single player that stands out above all others after the first round. After that, it seems like teams should be looking at stratifying the talent into tiers, much like guessing which round pick a player is worth, but more detailed. I tried to identify the best values at each pick that addressed need but also gave us a couple options should our target player be off the board. I admit that I have zero experience in personally judging talent, and the only contacts I have need to be taken out before I go to sleep. However, I have tried to gather the opinions and analysis of those I thought credible to create a mock draft that might be plausible for the Dolphins. I may very well be completely off base, but this is my best guess at what Miami could be targeting for this draft.
Here is how I have it set up:
Rd, Pick, Pos, Player/ Alt. Player with similar value
1. (9) WR – Tedd Ginn Jr. (As excited as I am about his individual potential and play making abilities, my main hopes revolve around him boosting the play of Chambers)
2. (40) DE – Quentin Moses/ (several quality DE choices here depending on how you rank them, i.e. Tim Crowder, Ikaika Alama-Francis, etc. I’m crossing my fingers for J. Moss, but not holding my breath. It was hard to say that we wouldn’t take one of the crop of OL that seem to be of good value here (Blaylock, Sears, Grubbs, Ugoh), but as I will point out later in my assumptions, I think we will address OL in later rounds.)
2. (60) QB – Kevin Kolb/ Drew Stanton (Depends on which one is higher on the Mueller’s list and which is still there)
3. (71) CB – Jon Wade/ Fred Bennett (Depends on Mueller and what’s left)
4. (108) G/C – Josh Beekman/ Andy Alleman (Depends on Mueller and what’s left.)
6. (181) DT – Anotonio Johnson/ Derek Landri (Truthfully, I have no idea at this pick. Although it seems to me that we have depth with Traylor, Evans, and M. Wright possibly, everyone seems to think we need another DT. Truthfully, I think we will probably start looking at OL at this pick, but I couldn’t identify any that we might have to take at this pick that wouldn’t be there in rd 7.)
7. (219) T – Chase Johnson / G – Cameron Stephenson (Last 2 picks – OL, large men with quick feet. The order depends on ranking by Houck/ Mueller/ Cameron. I don’t pretend to know which they will take. These are just some names that have come up that I have put in what seems to be reasonably valued spots. )
7. (238) T – Corey Hillard/ Adam Koets
A few notable players that have been mentioned a few times that could also be targeted with our current or future (from trades) 6th – 7th rd picks (or possibly UDFA):
- Prescott Burgess – OLB
- Johnny Baldwin – ILB
- Brennan Condren – S
- Eric Deslauriers – WR
- Kurt Quarterman – G
- Dane Upereza – T
- Any lineman that has caught Miami’s eye
Also, despite what many people think, Ginn may actually be gone by our 9 pick. If that is the case, assuming Quinn, Russell, AP, Thomas, Adams and Landry are off the board, I would take Carriker @ 9 and try for Sidney Rice @40. While I think the Dolphins like Brown, and I think he will be a good lineman in the NFL, I don’t think he is the franchise LT that warrants a #9 pick.
As a side note, these are the main assumptions I used when setting up this mock:
- Ricky is reinstated. This allows removes the need for a RB to replace Sammy Morris.
- Quinn will be gone by #9
- Aaron Ross and Chris Houston gone by #40 (McCauley would be the next value to target @#40, but character concerns are a problem after numerous reports have him giving up on his team in his senior campaign. After that, next CB value Miami is in position to draft is @60. Staley will also be gone by this point)
- No trades, up or down. There are just too many possibilities to try and predict.
- Lastly, and most importantly, I am assuming that Cameron/ Mueller/ Houck will follow the drafting pattern of OL that Cam/ Houck did in ’04 when they overhauled the OL in San Diego. Unless they see Marcus McNeill potential in Levi Brown, I expect the OL to be addressed in later rounds. It seems that Houck is comfortable getting physical talents in later rounds and molding them himself.
Again, this is my first mock, so I would greatly appreciate feedback (Good or Bad). Thanks. Go Dolphins!
Here is how I have it set up:
Rd, Pick, Pos, Player/ Alt. Player with similar value
1. (9) WR – Tedd Ginn Jr. (As excited as I am about his individual potential and play making abilities, my main hopes revolve around him boosting the play of Chambers)
2. (40) DE – Quentin Moses/ (several quality DE choices here depending on how you rank them, i.e. Tim Crowder, Ikaika Alama-Francis, etc. I’m crossing my fingers for J. Moss, but not holding my breath. It was hard to say that we wouldn’t take one of the crop of OL that seem to be of good value here (Blaylock, Sears, Grubbs, Ugoh), but as I will point out later in my assumptions, I think we will address OL in later rounds.)
2. (60) QB – Kevin Kolb/ Drew Stanton (Depends on which one is higher on the Mueller’s list and which is still there)
3. (71) CB – Jon Wade/ Fred Bennett (Depends on Mueller and what’s left)
4. (108) G/C – Josh Beekman/ Andy Alleman (Depends on Mueller and what’s left.)
6. (181) DT – Anotonio Johnson/ Derek Landri (Truthfully, I have no idea at this pick. Although it seems to me that we have depth with Traylor, Evans, and M. Wright possibly, everyone seems to think we need another DT. Truthfully, I think we will probably start looking at OL at this pick, but I couldn’t identify any that we might have to take at this pick that wouldn’t be there in rd 7.)
7. (219) T – Chase Johnson / G – Cameron Stephenson (Last 2 picks – OL, large men with quick feet. The order depends on ranking by Houck/ Mueller/ Cameron. I don’t pretend to know which they will take. These are just some names that have come up that I have put in what seems to be reasonably valued spots. )
7. (238) T – Corey Hillard/ Adam Koets
A few notable players that have been mentioned a few times that could also be targeted with our current or future (from trades) 6th – 7th rd picks (or possibly UDFA):
- Prescott Burgess – OLB
- Johnny Baldwin – ILB
- Brennan Condren – S
- Eric Deslauriers – WR
- Kurt Quarterman – G
- Dane Upereza – T
- Any lineman that has caught Miami’s eye
Also, despite what many people think, Ginn may actually be gone by our 9 pick. If that is the case, assuming Quinn, Russell, AP, Thomas, Adams and Landry are off the board, I would take Carriker @ 9 and try for Sidney Rice @40. While I think the Dolphins like Brown, and I think he will be a good lineman in the NFL, I don’t think he is the franchise LT that warrants a #9 pick.
As a side note, these are the main assumptions I used when setting up this mock:
- Ricky is reinstated. This allows removes the need for a RB to replace Sammy Morris.
- Quinn will be gone by #9
- Aaron Ross and Chris Houston gone by #40 (McCauley would be the next value to target @#40, but character concerns are a problem after numerous reports have him giving up on his team in his senior campaign. After that, next CB value Miami is in position to draft is @60. Staley will also be gone by this point)
- No trades, up or down. There are just too many possibilities to try and predict.
- Lastly, and most importantly, I am assuming that Cameron/ Mueller/ Houck will follow the drafting pattern of OL that Cam/ Houck did in ’04 when they overhauled the OL in San Diego. Unless they see Marcus McNeill potential in Levi Brown, I expect the OL to be addressed in later rounds. It seems that Houck is comfortable getting physical talents in later rounds and molding them himself.
Again, this is my first mock, so I would greatly appreciate feedback (Good or Bad). Thanks. Go Dolphins!
