I wouldn't say I have any inside knowledge of how NFL teams scout or put together draft boards - they all have different ways of doing it. Just like I have my own way of trying to determine if a guy is a good football player or not. If he's not, why not.....and if he is, how good can he become?
I think in order to be a successful front office in the NFL when it comes to evaluating, drafting, and developing talent, you have to get the easy ones right. The draft is hard. Therefore you have to get the easy ones right when they come along. Miami hasn't always done that. They tend to get the easy ones wrong. Furthermore, you must have a model that works in terms of how to build and maintain a solid roster. Understanding what positions to value over other positions, and how much. Again, Miami hasn't always done that correctly.
Lastly, I think you need to have an incredible understanding between front office and coaching staff when it comes to the type of football players you want. There can be no ambiguity here. Scouts live out of suitcases nearly year round. They're on the road to campuses, attending practices, games, etc. The scout may like a particular player, but he may not be a fit in terms of system for the coach. The scout has to wave goodbye to him. Knowing that in the big picture, the team he's working for is making a mistake. But it's not his call. That's why you don't draft for "system fit". You draft the best talent. That system or that coach may not even be here in 2 years. Miami hasn't always done this.
This is why I believe there needs to be more transparency in NFL front offices when it comes to who signed off on what and who wanted who. That way the fanbase knows who to hold accountable. It does no good if only the owner knows. If I were a General Manager or front office executive making decisions, I'd make damn sure everyone in the organization and outside of it knew very specifically which personnel decisions I was in line with and which one's I wasn't.
Let the chips fall where they may.
