We’ve talked about it for a long time, in fact, some of us started talking about it before we drafted last year, in the 2015 NFL draft. It never stops. The NFL Draft, the place where dreams are either realized, or crushed. There is always hope, always, because where else can you bring in new, young talent, and the potential to bring in 8 or more new faces to your team in one weekend. This only happens with the NFL, and then after the draft, even more excitement is generated by the signing of players who went undrafted. Sometimes, a player who was expected to be a mid round pick falls completely off the draft board, or in last year’s case, a possible top 10 pick, like La’el Collins, who due to bizarre circumstances with a murder case he had no part in yet was being questioned by police, had all 32 teams wipe him right off their draft boards.
Tomorrow will begin the madness that is the 2016 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins currently hold 8 picks, starting from the #13 pick, #42, #73, #107, #147, #186, #227, and finally #231. There is no guarantee that the Dolphins will use all those picks to get 8 players, they may trade up early in the 1st RD and use 2 or 3 picks to accomplish that. They may trade back later in the into the 1st RD, and gain a couple of picks. There are so many angles from which to look at either strategy, and a case can be made for both, without either of them being necessarily wrong or right. For instance, supposedly, this draft plateaus from approximately pick #15 to pick #50, meaning the talent at #50 is nearly equal to the talent at #15. We pick at #13, right around that imaginary line, so would trading back to pick up a couple of extra players in that range be smart? Sure. If all the supposed blue chippers are in the top 10, does it not make sense to trade up and get a superior talent and a player with a greater chance of making a big impact on our team right now? Sure.
Whatever we do tomorrow, partly because of past failures, such as the Dion Jordan trade up to #3 in 2013, or just because of personal preferences, some of us will be angry at some of the selections we make, and yet others will be ecstatic. That’s how it is. I have to give all you guys/girls lots of credit for your dedication to the sport, and especially the entire draft process. I know many of you tirelessly watch college football to find potential for the Miami Dolphins, and others, like myself, who don’t watch college ball, scour as many scouting reports, watch highlight reels, record and watch the entire week of Senior Bowl practices and the game itself, the same with the NFL combine. The funny thing is, even the best of the best here, who really put in max effort, most likely don’t put in a fraction of the time our scouting staff put in, and our coaches and our GM put in. Granted, that’s their job, we do it for (fun?). Still, we should all probably just chill out with the negative feelings (I know I will have them), because these guys really did put in the effort to make the team better, and hopefully, it actually works.
I’m going to give you my picks for each round, without trade ups or trade downs, because those are just too hard to predict, it requires a lot of cooperation and desire from another team or two, and therefore, I’ll just do it straight up. This draft is not who I want for our team, it’s how I expect it to happen.
RD 1 – Pick #13 RB Ohio State – Ezekiel Elliott
First of all, let’s put that myth that if he’s elite, he’ll be gone by pick #10 nonsense, and if he’s not, he’ll be there. Great NFL players are chosen all over the place, and these selections are made by a few parameters, GRADE, NEED (at a certain position) and VALUE. Every team will have different metrics on those, and many teams obviously have different needs for both position, and the type of players they want to fill those positions. For example, while Vernon Hargreaves may be rated very high on most boards, a team that prefers bigger CB’s may not have him on their board early at all. So back to Elliott. He would most definitely be our best RB if he were to join our team.
Much has been made of Adam Gase’s use of a “running back by committee”. I think it’s only fair to look at each situation, and why that may have been. In Denver 2013, first off, Gase had Peyton Manning., who threw the ball 659 times for nearly 5500 yards. The Broncos drafted Montee Ball, and added him to a stable with Knowshown Moreno, Ronnie Hillman, and and CJ Anderson. Moreno carried the ball 241 times, more than double the carries Montee Ball got at 120 carries. Is that really a RB by committee? In 2014, again, Manning put up astronomical numbers, 597 pass attempts, over 4700 yards. With Knowshown Moreno out of the picture, and Montee ball fat and out of shape, and fumbling often, Gase had little choice to try and find the hot hand. CJ Anderson rushed 179 times, for 849 yards, and Ronnie Hillman 106 times, for 434. Keep in mind, Ronnie Hillman was the better 3rd down back, and most of his action was on 3rd down, but again, the RB by committee aspect doesn’t necessarily show up, because the talent just simply wasn’t there to earn the bulk of the carries.
In Chicago, 2015, Adam Gase had 30 YO Matt Forte, rookie Jeremy Langford, and 2nd YR RB Ka’Deem Carey. Just for some background, Forte has never really been a bellcow RB, the most carries he had in his career was his rookie season when had a high of 316 carries. He never broke 300 again, and has been slowly diminishing in carries the last few years, from 289 in ’13, to 266 in ’14, and last year 218. Langford carried 148 times, and Carey 43. Clearly, Forte was his best guy, but at 30 YO, he didn’t overwork him, and for the most part, Chicago’s offense was a disappointment, despite Jay Cutler playing at his most efficient, with 21 TD’s and only 11 INT’s. They sorely missed Brandon Marshall last season, and when Alshon Jeffery got hurt, that was it for this offense.
My point is, I don’t believe that Gase has a strategy to use his running backs nearly equally. I think he had to in Denver, out of necessity, and in Chicago, he didn’t want to burn out his 30 year old star in Matt Forte. Gase did say he wants a stable of RB’s, and I think that’s the responsible thing to do, considering what can happen if there’s a severe drop off in talent from your starter to your reserves. make no mistake, if we draft Ezekiel Elliott, he will clearly be our best RB, and we will use him as such. He will make a huge impact in our offense.
RD 2 – Pick #42 CB Houston – William Jackson III
We have a definite need at CB, no question about it, and we get the best we can in the 2nd RD. Jackson gives another 6 foot CB who can play both press and zone coverage. A good fit for what we’re looking for, Jackson will certainly be given every opportunity to start opposite Byron Maxwell.
RD 3 – Pick #73 OG Stanford – Joshua Garnett
As much as we need a CB, we need to shore up the interior OL. We get the powerful OG Garnett from Stanford. Garnett also will be given every opportunity to start somewhere on the OL, most likely LG, to compete with vet Jermon Bushrod. That will leave a battle royale at RG, with Billy Turner, Jamil Douglas, and Kraig Urbik .
RD 4 – Pick #107 OLB Akron – Jatavis Brown
Excellent athletic player, with wheels (4.47 40). Driven, team oriented player, lunch pail type of guy. A little undersized at 5’11” 227, but a great guy to bring into the mix at OLB.
RD 5 – Pick #147 S Miami – Deon Bush
Bush is a physical player who likes to hit, and when he does, forces fumbles. Bush forced 5 fumbles in 2014. He can also go up and get the ball with his 39 1/2″vertical. Bush has only 4 INT’s in 4 years, along with 13 passes defensed. Could be a good player down the line.
RD 6 – Pick #186 CB Virginia – Maurice Canady
Canady brings another CB with size to the team. Not a physical player, but a player with talent that perhaps VJ can bring out.
RD 7 – Pick #227 DE Baylor – Shawn Oakman
Oakman is probably worth a flier in the 7th RD. he could easily end up off the team before the season, but maybe, the light goes on, and he becomes a player. I’d take tht chance this late in the game.
RD 7 – Pick #231 WR Illinois – Geronimo Allison
OK, so I really just want to scream Genonimo!!!!!! Do I take a chance and try to sign him after the draft? No way!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
So far this draft we have basically added::
OT(LG) Laremy Tunsil
MLB Kiko Alonso
CB Byron Maxwell
CB Xavien Howard
RB Kenyan Drake
WR Leonte Carroo
That’s about a 50/50 mix of defense & offense starter type material. I think this offseason will grow on you guys and go a long way to getting the Gas era off on the right foot!
I love the picks. Drake will be a huge weapon, think of a bigger better Percy Harvin that can run the ball too.
Carroo is a homerun threat too in case Stills doesn’t play well, or also to give Landry a rest.
Gase is an offensive minded HC/play caller.
He knows in this new NFL, and especially vs. the Pats, that we need to avg 24+ points a game.
I like this. Score more & the defense will be better for it & can be aggressive instead of Coyle passive!
Still is a FA next year so would also be an insurance policy for if he does have a good year and we can’t afford to resign him
Jatavis would be a fine 6th round guy kinda a poorer poor man’s Deion Jones
That is an outstanding draft.
Even though we didn’t get the kicker?
All the picks so far seem to be potentially big contributors.
I bet Kiper swallows too.
and what he cant swallow he uses as a hair gel
D, good point on Still in his final year of rookie deal….Carrooooooo
You know when you really like a player and you say, for example, “gee I wish we had more players like Landry”, well that’s what they did with Drake and Caroo. They should be nice additions to this team.
I like the Bears draft so far….and the Steelers secondary just got good again with Artie Burns & Sean Davis….yikes!
Browns on the clock for their 5th WR.
It’s their plan to resign Manziel. Put 7 WRs on the field, so Johnny douchebag can just chuck it in the air and hope it hits someone wearing the same color uni. 🙂
btw, I saw James Walker gave 28 of 31 first round picks a ‘thumbs up’… of course one of the three downs was the Fins pick. What is it about covering the Dolphins that brings out the hate in everyone. lol
son of a son of a shula says:
April 30, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Even though we didn’t get the kicker?
_________________________________________
Damn Bucs stole my man. However, I would have won my bet. He went before the end of the 3rd round. Small consolation though.
Good news he has a younger brother who is as good. There is hope still.
so now one values the draft that includes players traded for? well based on that shouldnt you deduct out the players they lost. or does that not help make the point of a great draft.
You make trades in the draft, up, down, & for players….it’s separate from FA losses & adds.
….and you call yourself an accountant….SMH!
Spencer Drango…good pick by the Brownies.
man, it’s a long, long time to get to the 6th round. I feel like Elaine watching The English Patient
Night folks, I have to get some sleep.
Sleep tight
So we traded away our 4th RD pick for (2) 6ths and a 7th, and the Patriots turn that into a 4th RD pick next year. WTF!
No! We traded our 5th for two 6ths and a 7th. Who cares what they did with the pick. It was Minnesota’s, not ours anymore. We already made our trade.
Whatever, 5th. Freaking Patriots capitalize on our pick nicely, and we wait 200 picks to go again.
One of the reasons we can get within four games of the Patriots is because of what happened today. We trade them a pick (cardinal sin to trade within the division), and they turn around and trade that pick for more than they have us. It’s just comical.
Cant
LOL – Look up ^
Haha! I saw that.
I WANT A FULL BACK!!!
I WANT A FULL RACK!!!
LOL @ Rhino on Manziel & the hail mary all 3 downs for Cleveland.
Drango and Collins gone
5th Mike
Seahawks just got Marshawn Lynch 2.0
Mike E. says:
April 30, 2016 at 3:24 pm
So we traded away our 4th RD pick for (2) 6ths and a 7th, and the Patriots turn that into a 4th RD pick next year. WTF!
mike you are wrong. one of the talking idiots said since it was next years 4 that means it is really devalued a round so it is like a third this year so basically the pats got a 3rd this year. and yeah he actually said that.
Its equivalent to a this year 5th
We traded our 4th as part of what we did to take Howard
LMAO, Browns take their 5th WR….
getter,
so i have this right in valuing a draft you can use trades but you cant use FA gains and losses. can you tell me which page that is on in the ‘how to evaluate a football draft’ book
There goes Fahn Cooper
CJ Prosise went 90th in 3rd. Fins took Drake at 73. Am I missing something. Any place between 73 and 90 was a good value for Prosise. Is Drake that much ‘faster’? Just curious.
Different type players.
Yes
Yes he is, more explosive more versatile, been a RB much longer too.
You guys are looking at our trade with the Pats and what Minnesota did with our 2017 4th rd pick all wrong. Do you guys like to be negative just for the sake of it? SMH LOL
No, I made a mistake with 4th and 5th RD. Still, the Pats took our 5th and turned it into a 4th next year.
So what? We made our deal and then it was Minnesota’s pick to do what they want with it. What the Pats are going to land the next Reggie White with it? I mean I don’t get this kind of thinking. I really don’t.
Chargers take Jatavis Brown to end the round.
Shoot, Jatavis Brown gone
Well the fans crucify the FO for 1 WR
I’d hate to see what they’d do for 5???????????
looks like the nhl has said no the tampa advancing further. already two really god awful power plays for NY. must be nice being a big market team and owning the refs
Who will be the 196th selection???
I can’t remember anymore, what happened to our original 6th RD pick?
Vikings trade to move up from 4th to 3rd round
Ohhh, right
D
6 minutes
Its equivalent to a this year 5th
no, it is equivalent to a 4th. it is a 4th pick so it is equivalent to a 4th. that is like when a guy is drafted in the 3rd round and some say he is 1st round talent. no he isnt, he is 3rd round talent or he would hae been a 1st round pick
Draft value FFR, next years 4th carries a value of a this year’s 5th since you don’t know how low in the 4th that pick will wind up being. I get what you are saying but that’s not how GM’s vauke future picks
the reason I ask about Prosise and Drake… it gives us an idea of what Gase is planning on doing.. our offense should be more wide open but not necessarily ‘deep/veritcal’. Cameron may be used to stretch more than Stills (?). But Parker, Landry, and now Caroo are gonna pull anything close to their hands. Maybe we’ll see more Tanny runs…. but the RB is definitely gonna be catching lots of passes.
Landry, Caroo, and Drake are after-touch guys who will keep going for yards
Rob
Honestly, i can never understand that garbage. This years 5th = next years 4th? Must be the new math. Call me next year when I have your 4th, and you used my 5th and tell me how you feel. lol
They get the extra round for having to wait a year to use it. Call it interest.
^
It’s always been that way. You drop a grade this year for next year’s pick. We did the same in 1998 for Surtain, we traded a 1999 1st for a 1998 2nd to get him.
Mike it’s because you don’t know what nect years draft class will look like in the 4th you also don’t know what pick in the 4th that will be, so it could be last pick in the 4th
New blog up so we can start a fresh page for the griping of our Day 3 picks
19 picks to go
d,
i dont care how gms look at it. i was laughing at the idiot saying basically the pats got a 3rd this year for the trade when that would be impossible since the 3rd round was over. but he just wanted to find some way of making the cheats look like they are so smart
Tim, D. Son, Everyone
Still, call me next year when I have your 4th RD pick, and you used mine in the 5th last year. Hear me?
Nope! That makes no sense to me. It wasn’t our pick anymore. Come on, man. We targeted Carroo. The Pats have no idea what they get next year and it’s not like they hit on all their picks anyway. That’s just paranoia Pats stuff you’re rolling with. It had nothing to do with us.
I know it wasn’t our pick anymore, but it could have been!
Piggy
Until we trade out of this draft entirely, and get 3 4th RD picks in 2018, which will be worth 1/3 of a 7th RD pick this year. lol
Son
Is there a new blog?
Yes
you guys are missing the point. we get there is trade value. there is with any trade, but saying next year 4th is like this years 5th is bs. it is a 4th pick next year. who gives a shit about what happened the year before
lmao with the islander getting another power play in the first period. why doesnt the nhl just put them thru. this is worse then the nba
I just saw
BRANDON DOUGHTY! NIVE PICK