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Sportsbuzz: Buzz on Dolphins' first-round draft options

datruth55

datruth55

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With the Dolphins having identified defensive end, cornerback and linebacker as their three biggest needs, the good news is that about half of the players currently projected for the top 12 of the NFL Draft play those positions.

An early look at Miami’s options, with the Dolphins holding the sixth spot in the draft at the moment and having the potential to fall anywhere between third and 10th pending Sunday's results:

### Defensive end: Ohio State’s Joey Bosa is the best player in the draft according to ESPN's Mel Kiper, and Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche and Oregon’s DeForest Buckner are considered top 10 material.

Kiper, on Bosa, on ESPN.com: “The guy just dominates on an almost play-to-play basis, with great instincts against the run and the ability to create pressure on the quarterback in a variety of ways. If you try to take away the outside edge, he can just drive a tackle right into the QB.

“He didn't start the season playing quite this well, but he keeps getting better. Explosive pass-rusher and is consistently disruptive against the run. Bosa has size -- he's 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, and could play bigger --- and versatility that will fit any scheme.”

Bosa can't be ruled out as a possibility for Miami if the two high-end quarterbacks (Memphis' Paxton Lynch and Cal's Jared Goff) jump him in the draft and if Miami ends up with a top five pick. Tennessee, which has the top pick heading into the final weekend (Cleveland also is in contention), doesn't need a quarterback but could consider Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.

As for Nkemdiche, he's ninth on Kiper’s Big Board and “can be dominant… when he's 100 percent,” Kiper said. “He explodes off the snap like a guy 40 or 50 pounds lighter. And Nkemdiche isn't just quick; he also has strength at the point and doesn't get eaten up by double-teams.”

But there’s a red flag; Nkemdiche was suspended for this week’s Sugar Bowl after an arrest for possession of marijuana.

“I and many around the league ask about where he's at with off-field questions,” Kiper said. “He's a talent, but you need the reliability.’’

ESPN’s Todd McShay said the 296-pound Nkemdiche (who had 29 tackles and three sacks this season) can play tackle or defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, like Miami’s. But some believe he is better suited to tackle in a 4-3 and end in a 3-4. Of course, the Dolphins won't know what defensive scheme they're running until they hire a coaching staff.

Buckner, 6-7 and 300 pounds, has an impressive motor and the ability to play in any system, according to Kiper, who ranks Buckner fourth overall. He had 9.5 sacks this season.

McShay ranks Buckner 10th and says he “uses his explosive upper-body power to jar blockers and push the pocket, while his height (6-7) and length come in handy when trying to bat down passes. When he plays with leverage, he's tough to stop.”

After those three, Kiper’s next highest-rated defensive ends are Clemson’s Shaq Lawson (11th) and Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah (19th). Lawson will be on display in the national semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

Kiper said Lawson has “quickness, spin moves, a special knack for finding the ball early."

Lawson had 9.5 sacks this season, Ogbah 13.

Both have very good quickness for their size (275 pounds).

McShay has Lawson 13th, Ogbah not in his top 25.

### Cornerbacks: FSU’s Jalen Ramsey and UF’s Vernon Hargreaves will be serious considerations for Miami if available. Kiper has Ramsey third overall and Hargreaves eighth. Either might end up being the safest pick for Miami, filling a high-need position.

Ramsey, a converted safety, “has the length, range and exceptional instincts to make plays all over the field,” Kiper said. “A truly gifted athlete.”

Ramsey, McShay said, “can do it all in the secondary: match up in the slot, play center field and stuff the run.”

Hargreaves “is the best pure cover corner in the draft class” with great instincts, Kiper said. “At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he's not small; he just lacks a margin for error compared to some.”

There’s a dropoff at corner after Ramsey and Hargreaves. Kiper has Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller 18th and LSU’s Tre’Davious White 20th.

### Linebackers: Kiper and McShay have only one in their top 10 lists: Notre Dame outside linebacker Jaylon Smith.

Kiper very recently raised him to second overall, behind only Bosa.

“A rare player at his position who could be drafted this high,” Kiper said. “It's really hard to pick out serious flaws, aside from a missed tackle here and there and occasional over-pursuit. He can be moved around, has good length and can flat-out fly for a linebacker, with sub-4.5 speed.”

Among other linebackers, Kiper has UCLA’s Myles Jack 14th and Alabama’s Reggie Ragland 24th.

Jack, recovering from a torn ACL, is “a linebacker with quickness you would get from a smaller safety, and that extends to his ability to cover, as well,” Kiper said. It's possible he could rise to Miami's range if the Dolphins end up in the 9th/10th slot, but most have him rated lower.

Besides Jack, McShay also has Ohio State’s Darron Lee as a mid-teens linebacker prospect.

### For those wondering about quarterback: The Dolphins remain committed to Ryan Tannehill and prioritize defensive needs over everything else. It would be very surprising, at this point, if Miami invests a top 10 pick in a QB.

But keep in mind that two quarterbacks are projected top 10 picks: Memphis’ Paxton Lynch (the Dolphins like him, as Armando Salguero has noted) and California’s Jared Goff.

Lynch had 28 touchdowns and three interceptions this season and Kiper said his “talent for the position is so clear, and the decision-making has been very good.”

Kiper has Lynch sixth and Goff 10th among all draft-eligible players. It wouldn't be surprising if either rises into the top three.

But a new coach probably would have to be given some personnel authority, and have serious doubts about Tannehill, for a QB to become a serious consideration, considering the Dolphins have been so transparent about their commitment to Tannehill (at least for next year).
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http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ayas-nfl-potential-heat-panthers-marlins.html
 
With all the talent in the top 10 this time around, it will be hard for even us to fugg this one up. Tunsil is the one that would piss me off the most - with Stanley a close second - just because I'm so sick of drafting o linemen in the 1st. Need an actual difference maker this time around. We have none of those
 
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We have a chance to get Hargreaves or Ramsey. Either of those guys would be perfect. Bosa is a JJ Watt type of player, but we already have Phillips and Suh.
QB's are not that great this year, but hopefully a team will take one or two above us leaving the CB's and DE's to fall to us.
LB and OL can be addressed in rounds 2-5 where there is depth at the position.
I can see us drafting a swing tackle and LG as well as well as a MLB and FS rounds 2-5.
 
I would rather grab J. Smith if he's there. A MLB with that talent behind Suh would be exceptional. We've missed a signal caller in the middle of our defense for far too long.
 
Hope we bring in new coach who demands Goff.

It would be such a Miami dolphin thing to do to pass Goff and find out next season Tannehill just isn't going to get any better. There's no guarantee we will be in position to get a qb in the next draft.

Tannehill isn't young anymore, this team can't give him the scholarship treatment anymore, risking to much IMO.
 
Not one single word in that blurb on the offensive line lol.... but defensive end is at the top of the list..

It sounds so Dolphins'esque that I would believe it.
 
Well in all fairness we'll have a pretty good pick and I don't see an OL worth taking that high. Much better defensive talent in the top 5-10
 
Fintastic17 said:
I would rather grab J. Smith if he's there. A MLB with that talent behind Suh would be exceptional. We've missed a signal caller in the middle of our defense for far too long.
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[h=1]Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith, a likely high pick, suffers leg injury[/h]
Smith was knocked to the ground hard and his foot appeared to catch in the playing surface at University of Phoenix Stadium. He went down in pain, grabbing his knee, was attended to on the field for a couple minutes, and then had to be helped to the sideline.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/01/notre-dames-jaylon-smith-a-likely-high-pick-suffers-leg-injury/

bummer
 
ITS!MATEO said:
Not one single word in that blurb on the offensive line lol.... but defensive end is at the top of the list..

It sounds so Dolphins'esque that I would believe it.
Click to expand...

If you have Stanley as BPA, you make the pick, but you'd either start him at OG, or you have to move Albert, and compensation would be light.

Ideally, you get a DE or CB, and pick up a MLB in the 2nd.
 
We need to draft OLine, a guy who plays guard that will slide out to tackle when Albert gets hurt. No more Jason Fox and make turner a back up.. Let him be jack of all trades scout team.
 
ITS!MATEO said:
Not one single word in that blurb on the offensive line lol.... but defensive end is at the top of the list..

It sounds so Dolphins'esque that I would believe it.
Click to expand...

Agree. DE may or may not be a need depending on FA.

TheHoff said:
Mel Kiper also mocked Demontre Moore 3rd overall. He's a cartoon.
Click to expand...

Who? Mel or Damontre?
 
I love Smith, but with his injury I wonder if he's worth a top 10. My gut feeling is that Miami takes a defensive end. There are some really good DE's in this draft and it makes sense with Wake getting older and coming off an injury.
 
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