Can Miami Find a Difference Maker at #22, #54?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Is it too much to ask for that the Miami Dolphins find two difference makers in this draft? I know that's hard to do, but this draft is pretty loaded at positions of need for Miami. That makes the odds a little better IMO.

I think defensive players are going to fly off the board quickly in this draft. Hopefully a few teams reach for quarterbacks before the #22 pick. If the three highly rated offensive lineman are also off the board, the Dolphins have more choices on the defensive side.

In the best case scenario, Miami would get a complete linebacker who can rush the passer and a defensive end who can wreck havoc as well. I don't know what that would leave on the offensive line in round three and that is a concern. Can the team find a starting offensive lineman in the third round or later?

My gut is that Peppers is the guy at #22 if he's there. I think that's probably about 50/50. Have to believe Charlton, as one of the few bigger defensive ends, is high on the list as well. Watt or Bowser are a couple of linebackers with pass rush ability. I think Reddick will be gone before Miami picks.

Anyway, I just want the team to get it right. Find playmakers and help this team reach a new level.

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

[video=youtube;NJzoBmVPeYw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJzoBmVPeYw[/video]
Brother I think we will!

 

[artdnj]

Oh we can get someone who is a difference maker but as always, it's hit or miss.Let's hope we nail it.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

[video=youtube;NJzoBmVPeYw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJzoBmVPeYw[/video]
Brother I think we will!

Awesome! That reminds me of a quote. Not sure if it was Al Davis or Jimmy Johnson who said it, but goes something like this..."I don't care what the defense gives us, we're going to take what we want."

I've always liked that boldness and I think Miami is getting there with Adam Gase. T-Baum has also shown a bold, aggressive approach while sometimes that has served him well.

Anyway, it's just time to get it right and take that hardest step to become a legit contender.

 

[Agua]

Awesome! That reminds me of a quote. Not sure if it was Al Davis or Jimmy Johnson who said it, but goes something like this..."I don't care what the defense gives us, we're going to take what we want."

.

Heh, the thread title reminded me of the JJ quote: "t doesn't matter where you pick; what matters is who you pick".

 

[Michael Scott]

If we draft a strong safety at 22 I'd go crazy, and that's what Peppers is. He has shown nothing to lead anyone to believe he's a free safety, and he's too small to play linebacker in the NFL.

I don't even think he ends up a starter year one. He's probably a nickel back who plays in the box in certain packages.

I feel the same way about everyone's newest obsession; Obi. Strong safety who doesn't have the deep speed to play cornerback. Difference is Peppers is a football player. He will find his way, but it's gonna take time. Obi has boom or bust written all over him.

Aside from Hooker.... I like Josh Jones, Budda Baker, and Marcus Williams at 54 over Peppers at 22 or Obi at 54.

I wouldn't go anywhere near Peppers before round 2 and he won't last that long. Wouldn't go anywhere near Obi at all with the other safety prospects in his range.

 

[kcbrown]

Peppers is highly overrated IMO. I've never heard or seen him beast in a game, or highlights. Is he a great athlete and Jersey kid, yes. But a defensive stud? Hellz no.

 

[Michael Scott]

Peppers is highly overrated IMO. I've never heard or seen him beast in a game, or highlights. Is he a great athlete and Jersey kid, yes. But a defensive stud? Hellz no.

He was used in ways at Michigan that he won't be used in the pros. I like him, but agree that he's super overrated. He should be locked into the second round, but some team is probably going to take him before we even pick (hopefully). He's a gamer though. I give him that. I just have a huge issue with drafting a guy in the first round that doesn't have a true position, and the position he's closest to is a position where we have arguably the best in the league. Just doesn't make sense for the Dolphins.

You draft and put Peppers at FS without a single lock down corner on the roster and you're asking for serious trouble.

 

[Phinatic8u]

Yeah trade em for Malik Hooker.

 

[BlueFin]

I'm feeling a pass rusher or safety in rounds 1 & 2 in either order.

Guard & corner in rounds 3 & 5 in either order.

 

[tay0365]

With good research, good judgement, and a little luck...Why the heck not.

 

[Digital]

This draft is loaded with talent. I'm not a Peppers fan. I'm expecting a pass rusher at 22, whether that's DE or OLB I'm not sure. Our system suggests DE, but those are more likely to go before us, so who knows. Pass rushers are one of the hardest things to find and you can never have too many. Given Wake's age, we have a very strong need for them. Fortunately, this draft is deep at pass rusher, so now is the time to scoop up one or more while we can. If we are successful and keep winning, Gase will be around and we'll be drafting low'ish each year, so we may not get many more chances to draft good pass rush prospects. If we are not good and start losing again, well Gase will be fired and we'll likely be starting all over. So, I'm suspecting that this front office is going to get some pass rushers now, because it's rare for a draft to have this many good pass rushers. These opportunities don't come along all that often. So, those people projecting Peppers, Lamp, or a DB may be disappointed. Unless the good pass rushers are gone, I'm guessing we draft a pass rusher.

At 54, I think it will be a matter of what position still has high tier talent. So, that could be LB, DL, S, CB, TE, or even OG.

Given our needs, I'm expecting an OG or two in the draft somewhere, but other than that, we can really select the best available player, because we have legitimate needs at: DE, OLB, CB, OG, DT, MLB, and S. The bad news is that we have that many legitimate needs. The good news is that taking the best available talent that fits our schemes seems like a pretty reasonable approach. Now, after we've loaded up on DL and LB, it's going to get harder and harder to pass up the OG and DB guys.

 

[Oraclepz]

If we draft a strong safety at 22 I'd go crazy, and that's what Peppers is. He has shown nothing to lead anyone to believe he's a free safety, and he's too small to play linebacker in the NFL.

I don't even think he ends up a starter year one. He's probably a nickel back who plays in the box in certain packages.

I feel the same way about everyone's newest obsession; Obi. Strong safety who doesn't have the deep speed to play cornerback. Difference is Peppers is a football player. He will find his way, but it's gonna take time. Obi has boom or bust written all over him.

Aside from Hooker.... I like Josh Jones, Budda Baker, and Marcus Williams at 54 over Peppers at 22 or Obi at 54.

I wouldn't go anywhere near Peppers before round 2 and he won't last that long. Wouldn't go anywhere near Obi at all with the other safety prospects in his range.

Obi absolutely has the speed to play cb and he's not a workout warrior, there plenty of great tape out there of him. 4 years worth he will be a good player , how good idk.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

If we draft a strong safety at 22 I'd go crazy, and that's what Peppers is. He has shown nothing to lead anyone to believe he's a free safety, and he's too small to play linebacker in the NFL.

I don't even think he ends up a starter year one. He's probably a nickel back who plays in the box in certain packages.

I feel the same way about everyone's newest obsession; Obi. Strong safety who doesn't have the deep speed to play cornerback. Difference is Peppers is a football player. He will find his way, but it's gonna take time. Obi has boom or bust written all over him.

Aside from Hooker.... I like Josh Jones, Budda Baker, and Marcus Williams at 54 over Peppers at 22 or Obi at 54.

I wouldn't go anywhere near Peppers before round 2 and he won't last that long. Wouldn't go anywhere near Obi at all with the other safety prospects in his range.

It's just a feeling I have. I could be way off base. I know in Miami's defense the safeties are pretty interchangeable so I don't think the fact that Peppers is a SS would be a deal breaker.

I do like your list of second round safeties. Lots of talent at that position. I'm a huge fan of Baker, but I don't see Miami looking past his size. That Jones kid is physical, which looks like the direction the Dolphins are heading this offseason.

If it's me drafting, I'm looking pass rusher early and often.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

This draft is loaded with talent. I'm not a Peppers fan. I'm expecting a pass rusher at 22, whether that's DE or OLB I'm not sure. Our system suggests DE, but those are more likely to go before us, so who knows. Pass rushers are one of the hardest things to find and you can never have too many. Given Wake's age, we have a very strong need for them. Fortunately, this draft is deep at pass rusher, so now is the time to scoop up one or more while we can. If we are successful and keep winning, Gase will be around and we'll be drafting low'ish each year, so we may not get many more chances to draft good pass rush prospects. If we are not good and start losing again, well Gase will be fired and we'll likely be starting all over. So, I'm suspecting that this front office is going to get some pass rushers now, because it's rare for a draft to have this many good pass rushers. These opportunities don't come along all that often. So, those people projecting Peppers, Lamp, or a DB may be disappointed. Unless the good pass rushers are gone, I'm guessing we draft a pass rusher.

At 54, I think it will be a matter of what position still has high tier talent. So, that could be LB, DL, S, CB, TE, or even OG.

Given our needs, I'm expecting an OG or two in the draft somewhere, but other than that, we can really select the best available player, because we have legitimate needs at: DE, OLB, CB, OG, DT, MLB, and S. The bad news is that we have that many legitimate needs. The good news is that taking the best available talent that fits our schemes seems like a pretty reasonable approach. Now, after we've loaded up on DL and LB, it's going to get harder and harder to pass up the OG and DB guys.

I'm with you on pass rushers. If I'm drafting, I'm looking pass rusher in the first and second rounds. Whether it's LB/DE, DE/LB, DE/DE, DE/DT doesn't matter as much to me as getting the best pass rushers available. Ideally it would be a linebacker and defensive end in any order. Something like Watt and Larson 1-2.

My concern there is that Miami won't be able to find a starting guard in the third round or beyond. I don't see a lot of depth at that position. I think if there's a trade that may be where the Dolphins deal up, perhaps packaging their 3rd/5th and 7th to get up in that 3rd round range.