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 
I can’t fucking believe we missed out on Bullard by one pick. I love the Drake selection but fuck I was ticking down the Bullard pick and then motherfucking Chicago
Tell me about it.
Drake?? Is he any good? Wait what am I thinking of course not he sucks
I’m cool with that pick
I like Drake.
…With that said,I guess we’ll focus on defense next year.
I wanted Henry but I am happy with Drake
Fuck. Seriously? Take second fiddle when you could have had Charlie Daniels.
Lol, nice
Where would Bullard play if we drafted him?
I think the idea was DE
I think we will be very happy with Drake.
Yeah Drake! Explosive offensive weapon. I know GD and I have talked him up a bunch. Gase will find ways to get him the ball. He can line up as a receiver too. Like Mayock said he plays a lot of roles as a return man and a flyer on punt coverage as well.
We gave up our 4 for Howard is that right?
Yes
And we got a 6th
So now we have
A 5th
2 6ths
And 2 7ths
Thanks Piggy
Are you sure we got a 6th, I don’t see that anywhere?
just my thoughts about the draft.
i dont really care about the player. i dont follow them or even think i know more then the front office who has seen hundreds of hours of film, met the player, talked with coaches, i am sure they did their homework. what i want the team to do is address needs and so far the fins have done that IMO. i like what they have done so far, i will let all you guys complain about who the player is
Drake is immensely talented and I think Gase will love him. Guess our draft is over 😉
Well
Those extra oicks late leave a lot of ammo to move up somewhere
LOL
FFR,
Brian in NY says:
April 29, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Xavian Howard may be the pick for us too. He’s a big corner
We are having a good draft, don’t exactly what we needed to do by taking upgrades and uninjured players. makes a change.
don’t=doing
Nice pick by Raiders
Drake was the guy I had set my sights on, been suggesting him sine we started doing mocks. Again I’m just so fucking pissed we literally missed Bullard by one pick. Drake was the best fit RB for us though so that pick was a good one
I like Bullard too but do you think we were going to take him?
Goodnight guys, it’s been a long week
Peace Mike E
Goodnight
Connor Cook falling like a rock
I think what ffr is saying is he’s already googled pics of all their girlfriends and they’ are all hot. 😉
You know it Herd!
bri
i saw that earlier why i made the war room comment. mind slipping lauren my number. lol
Haha! At least wait until she delivers…
herdfan says:
April 29, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I think what ffr is saying is he’s already googled pics of all their girlfriends and they’ are all hot. 😉
i did not say that, did it, but didnt say it
Belichick mind controlled us into taking Drake.
But we then used brain control to counter him. LOL
I don’t see where we got 6th anywhere either
We also missed on kaufusi so another of my DE fallbacks. Tapper is still out there, a few others out there with good potential to develop
Piggy…we never got another 6th.
“So now we have
A 5th
2 6ths
And 2 7ths”
Translation: we might have one back up, and some definite camp fodder. 🙂
Might as well take some flyers on WR
Oh shot
No 6th
That’s a horrible trade up
We gave up a 4th to move up 4 spots???
Wtf
That’s what I said earlier!
Don’t much like it either but they must really like Howard. I just hope they are right on him
Same here. We’ll see.
I’m probably in the minority here but I hate RBBC. Get a fucking workhorse and feed him. In and out is only good for penises and vaginas. Henry would have been better, but it is what it is. Nice chatting with all of you again. Hopefully again tomorrow. Take care. All in to the Tunsils!
I think so Tim I think he was on the board near the top and horizontally I think he would have been under DE which is a need position.
Brothers still out there for linebacker
We don’t pick again until the 5th
I’m holding on to the thread it can happen lol. But then again I did same for Bullard and that just got me a headache from yelling obscenities lol
Haha! I met this guy earlier who is a gators and phins fan and he was pulling for us to take him.
Piggy,
Combine that with the fact that two of the four teams picking 38-41 picked a corner in the first and it was a horrible trade up. Maybe a fifth at best.
exactly…. we “jumped over” teams that already had picked a corner. sloppy in the war room.
We should dub this trade up as “the Bay of Pigs” ….lol
My thing is who was left out there. So Howard was a guy they liked but I have watched a ton of film on all those guys and Davis canaday green Harlan Miller bradberry…all on equal levels with hoeatdhoeatd, and could have even traded down and got one of them
Does a fifth, sixth, and seventh get us a fourth?
I’m pretty sure we like what we saw in Hewitt and Vigil and that’s why LB wasn’t a priority. We added Alonso and if Jenkins can regain his 2014 form sans high ankle sprain all year, we could have a good group. And Misi too. 😉
I could see us adding another LB in the late rounds though. Probably a more physical RB as well.
That’s a lot of “ifs” Tim.
I think Alonso is the reason we have not gone LB yet. Vigil and Hewitt did not show enough to keep everyone from listing LB as one of our primary needs.
Any shot at Scooby Wright in 5?
Yes
that’s it for me. gotta work extra stuff tomorrow. YESSSSS, we got Tunsil. lol and a couple other guys too. 🙂
Yeah….what he said.
Iowa Hero on the stage! Give it up!
I not sure if I like the Drake pick, because he’s not an RB, he’s a WR playing RB. Damien Williams is now gone, so we may keep 4 RBs DT3 and Pead. He’ll be somewhat of a playmaker, but I was looking for someone to push Ajayi.
Not sure Williams is gone. DT3 and Pead aren’t locks. Ajayi is likely the lead guy and he has 3 down skills. Drake adds a different dimension, he’s not a grinder. I also think we could add another RB in the last rounds, maybe a more physical guy.
Well, we’ve gotten the positions we needed most, so I can’t complain about the picks so far. I don’t see any glaring holes for 2016 now, we should be able to compete in our division.
I’m pretty sure you just complained in the post above!
I wouldn’t mind taking a shot at Devon Cajuste from Stanford in the 5th or 6th round.
I think we have legit shots at brothers, matakevich or wright.
I think we have legit shots at Macalister, Matt judon, dadi nicholas.
Jenkins may fall to the 5th
There are a few defensive players out there who can compete for jobs
I like Wright I would be very happy if we got him in 5
D, I like Bullard but we do have a lot of DEs on the roster already and I was wondering if we would add more. I guess we’re set and Wake is not going to be traded.
DE Wake, M. Williams, Branch, Fede, Moore, C. McCain, Laing, Warmsley, J. Williams, Jordan*
DT Suh, Mitchell, Phillips, Jones, Coleman, Tuaau
*fuckface
I don’t think Bullard is a fit for us. I see him more as a 3-4 DE
Jenkins gone
Yup. FU Jets
So far it is a GREAT draft. Going in I said we needed RB, CB, OG, and ILB.
3 out of 4 is awesome in only 3 picks. We got a high speed shake and bake RB to go with the powerback Ajayi — just what I wanted. I have been yelling for Drake ever since he beat my Tigers for the national championship.
I am not as high on the Howard pick. He fits a need but I am not sure he is the right guy. I love our other 2 picks.
I like Howard a lot, but I don’t like giving up a fourth rounder to move up four spots. I’d feel a lot better about a fifth.
Bullard was a flex player though that could shift to DT on other downs so he kind helped backup DT. He would have been a good pick. I think we still take a DE.
He’s considered a sub package rusher.
AND …. Getting the BEST OL in the whole draft, actually the best player at any position, is just AWESOME!!!!
That was a coup
There fuller goes, he was another guy I was also trying to say we passed on to take Howard
Brian, aren’t draft picks ifs? They already know about Hewitt and Vigil. Jenkins is good if he’s not hobbled. They know Misi is solid until he breaks down lol, and they expect Alonso to get back to form. Sure we haven’t seen this unit perform together yet but projection is a big part of the sport.
Yes, but I think they have more upside because you know what you have in your mediocre players already!
PLUS a guy who is both a hard hitter AND a nasty press man CB which is what we want after watching our guys line up 10-15 yrs off the WR and give away the yds 6-10 times a game.
D,
Wouldn’t it be easier to tell us the guys you didn’t like? Lol
As much as I still am not a fan of that trade, the draft has been good so far so I’m not being a negative Nancy
We need a CB who can tackle. Last yr I said so many times that omg our DB missed a tackle.
lol too funny
Jason La Canfora Verified account
@JasonLaCanfora
Any chance the Bucs had a gas-mask apparatus being passed around their war room when they made that pick? I kid. I kid.
Did we trade back up? It’s showing us up nxt
Huh
Texans have a TON of young talent at the WR position.
We traded up
well the nflpa is pulling for a fin now
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nflpa-president-rips-nfl-over-tunsil-incident/ar-BBsri7N?li=BBnba9I
Tim are you really telling me how Bullard plays?
No, just repeating what they’ve said and what I’ve read. LOL
Wo it looks like the dolphins are picking again at 86!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huh?
Jmmmmm wtf lol
How did we get a 3rd?
Gave up a lot I’m sure
We traded up for a WR? Seriously? WTF?
Holy shit we gave up a lot for that
A 3rd and. 4th next year and a 6th this year?
Holy shit … we took that tough as nails possession WR from Rutgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I said Phins would use a pick or two from next season to get a guy they want this year because of the comp picks. Carroo is a great pick for the team. This offense is going to be loaded with weapons.
Did we just trade up into the 3rd!!???? I’m at the bar and thought I saw an extra pick on the screen
Wtf just happened?
That is the weirdest thing i have ever seen!
That makes no fucking sense to me. If I was Stills I’d demand a trade.
How does that effect Stills, he’ll be pissed he’ll have competition? LOL
I know nothing about Leonte Carroo but he seems like a Mathews type WR at 6-0 211 4.5 speed. Tough looking dude.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/leonte-carroo?id=2555215
Character concerns
ok and now i dont like what they are doing. i didnt think wr was a position of need. and to give up picks for it. oh well. wait i know how i will like it. more to drink. yeah that is the ticket
Well enjoy what’s left of our draft but next year we won’t have that many picks
That guy has playmaker written all over him. “The best player on Rutgers whole team!”
We have Landry, Parker, and Stills. No need to give up picks for another WR.
I like the pick but trade up for a WR caught me off guard lol. What was it we gave up? Cnext years 3rd and conditional 4th?
And this year’s 6
welly mayock just said he likes what the fins are doing. so every thing is better now
Mayock says he is a playmaker. The Ohio State coach says they had to dbl team him or put a spy on him every down.
We used our comp picks from next year to get a player this year
I like Caroo but I don’t know we needed a WR and I don’t know we needed to give up what we did to get a WR
We’re trying to be a better team this year guys, unless you want to wait a few more years as we build and build and build and build.
Ken says:
April 29, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Well enjoy what’s left of our draft but next year we won’t have that many picks
not if lou is right. and he is a professor you know. but if he is right and they have a 3rd comp pick next year it isnt that horrible a trade
What did we give up?
I guess tannenbaum doesn’t value 4th round picks.
Or thirds
Tim,
They traded a third for him to be the #3 WR. Now they traded another third , a fourth and a sixth for another WR. So you traded those picks for a WR4? I doubt it.
Is that what we gave up
Next years picks?
Mismatch player. 4th WR that gives teams matchup issues.
Ken,
I agree. WR is not a position of need. It would be one thing if we simply picked him, but to trade picks for one is absurd to me.
D:
Next year’s 3, a conditional 4 next year and this year’s 6
A 3rd next year. A conditional 4th next year, and a 6th this year, I think.
‘not if lou is right. and he is a professor you know.’
re-reading that comes across as a dig at you lou, i didnt mean it that way at all it was just a joke. i got what you meant by the fins trading away a pick knowing they are expecting a comp pick.
Beer me, barrister!
I think it’s time for whiskey
Randy says:
April 29, 2016 at 10:56 pm
Mismatch player. 4th WR that gives teams matchup issues.
too bad the fins dont have a qb. (sorry i just had too)
Gase’ offense needs multiple WRs.
We had three good ones
damn… I was watching rest of the round out of spite… trying to fall asleep. Then, BAM, we trade up. I swear, these trade ups better prove us all wrong… or the clown car in Miami just filled up to the brim.
does it really matter trading away 6th round picks
That’s a lot
Maybe the new coaches don’t like Stills? We also signed Whalen. Pretty sure Hazel is gone.
That is a lot of picks to get someone at our position of most strength
Plus he has big time off field issues
Domestiv violence
ffr
Hey, we have a QB….just an average one. If he doesn’t start getting this team in the end zone after all the pieces they’ve added on offense this year….I don’t want to hear another damn excuse for him.