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 
Son, toke on off days and in the offseason. Once football starts get with the program. LOL
We better fucking score some points
Defense coming tomorrow, I promise!
They might take Henry
I’m sad that now Buffalo has two of my fave Tigers. Rex’s son played with Shaq there.
Plus they replace Mario with a young high motor edge rusher. We need a really good LT.
Wait. Tunsillllllll step up bro.
Lawson at DE, or OLB for Bills? I think OLB
OLB no doubt. Rex had Mario at 6-6 290 at OLB dropping in coverage. Lawson is 6-3 270 with good athleticism.
Kevin Dodd in the 2nd.
Dodd may fall to us, maybe Spenc, still got some great DEs falling. Run on OTs and S has pushed some DT and DE down
Tunsil will stonewall Shaq, Go Phins! No prob
I actually kinda wouldn’t mind getting a guy like Nkemdiche or Bullard tomorrow, a hybrid multi position DL guy
The playoff teams will gobble up the dline players
There are too many to take them all lol
Wonder if we try trading Albert
Son
I’m pretty confident we go defense next pick. We’ll get a back in the 3rd
Or 4th
Or 4th
Jack, Ragland and Lee
Still in the Board
Might be in good shape to snag a LB in the 2nd
This is also true, or Jones
Piggy
Ragland to the Pack. No way he gets past the pack
LOL Piggy
LOL Piggy
And I wonder still I wonder, who’ll stop the ruuuuuun?
Next pick. Be patient
No. Crawfish belly don’t have time for patience.
The white kid from the pats I guess
Mediocre pick for Jets
Fuck
Lee to the jests
Lawson to the bills
Bullshit
Jests Darron Lee…lol
Lee is not a 3-4 LB, I don’t get it with the Jets.
The next Vernon Gholston
Same thing I thought. And that’s what I was thinking when they were mocking him to us.
Don’t be mad Piggy…Lee is smallish. We’ll run right thru him.
Well I’m out. I gotta shower and do some stuff anyway.
so, seriously, anybody here prefer Ezekiel Elliot over Tunsil at 13?
No
Nope
Certainly not!
No, but either make the O a lot better.
Anyone think Ryan Tannehill knows how to hack Twitter accounts…
Just curious
Fuller was one of the reasons why I didn’t like VH3.
Fuller made him look bad.
That’s a no from me too.
We aren’t getting a CB if this keeps up
Alexander is on the board though
When Tunsil walks into Davie tomorrow:
Glad to have you here Lar and we’re sorry about the video
Fuller and Hopkins could be a dangerous duo
I’m a huge Elliot fan…but Tunsil is the better pick. Im still amazed. I’ll probably wake up tomorrow and quickly hit up NFL.com just to make sure this isn’t a Tunsil induced dream.
Rhino, Tunsil was a gift even if he waits in the wings competing with Albert and James. He’s an upgrade over Sam Young. The new regime saw what we saw – poor OL play. Tunsil pushes the other options to guard and ups the competition on the OL overall. We went BPA – a no-brainer.
Okay OD, what say you? 🙂
He has to be pleased with the douffus brigade after that
LOL
Cook in play at 42
Tunsil over Elliot. That’s what I thought too. We finally caught a break on draft day. Tunsil’s strengths play to how Gase wants the offense to go anyway. Perfect fit. No need to trade Albert. Keep the depth this year. NOW we need to nail this second round pick.
^
I’m shocked we landed Tunsil.
2nd and 3rd rd? CB and RB. Maybe LB…
Wow. They were saying maybe 2 WRs in the first this year. I think we will see 4 maybe more. Good job teams. Knock those CBs, LBs, and DL down some more!
Fuller never played against VH3. You are thinking Ramsey
Hey Twice! Happy about Tunsil?
He’s sleeping with a giant spider on his nose. LOL
Ooops, I thought of uwant. LOL
Fuller to Houston. They are certainly gonna make their ‘new’ QB look good.
Son
All this offense is looking for us on defense 2nd RD
Tunsil over Zeke all day long, because finding a true LT stalwart in the NFL is very difficult, it’s why we saw a run on OT’s early.
Zeke may be a great RB, but it’s easier to find a top RB, or make a RB look like an All Pro, with a great LT, a great OL.
Tunsil now becomes the anchor of our OL for years to come!
Ragland
Jack
Alexander
Good players left
More than that. 🙂
Yes, Mike E – happy with Tunsil gas mask bong and all…
That was an A++ pick. We lucked into it, but that doesn’t matter.
Piggy
I’m almost willing to bet Rags to the Pack at #27
Sorry GDP
Hey he wound up going in the first lol
The corner run started early this year – 5 already, still 1st round.
I’d keep both Albert and Tunsil for this year. Tunsil is coverage for if Albert breaks down again, and Albert is coverage for if Tunsil decides to bring the gas mask bong with him to Miami. Unless MIami were to get an offer they couldn’t refuse for Albert from some LT desperate team (injury in preseason, etc.)
James too. I think Gase watched the tape and said really?
All these cbs before Alenxader?!?!
Porcine shock
I think the Jets fucked up big time passing on Lynch.
I think they fucked up taking Lee period.
Lol, hopefully. He doesn’t have a lot of experience.
so who is still on your boards?
Dodd Spence Bullard Ragland are all 1st round prospects still out there. Reed. Robunson
Don’t you know piggy it’s the swine curse, happens to you every year
I barely spoke about Jack and Alexander ….lol
ragland has an enlarged aorta?
Jack in round 2?
Man poor Myles Jack. I’m sad for that kid
Ragland made it past the pack mikey
Yeah baby!
Reggie still in play!!! I hope he’s still around RD 2
I think I should out up a poll of how much beer Mike E owes me for that Ragland guaranty
I’ll do it. It will be up by 2024, I promise
Tunsil was the highest rated player on NFL.com with a 7.6
There is 0 doubt he is an on the field stud
Mike,
What was that bet for again lol? Im glad Ragland is moving down but like Elliot, I would like to see him further away from where we could nab him so the disappointment from not getting is reduced.
15 picks away
Should be good talent @ 42 tomorrow
Artie Burns went #25…UGH, hell WJ3 went #24….ugh
Yeah but you thought about it a lot didn’t you piggy. It seems to be a progressive issue then. Now it’s reading your thoughts
I like Spence or Nkemdiche at #42. We could go corner here but maybe 3-4.
We can’t draft Tunil and Nkemdiche
Nkemdiche, Bullard or Spence would be my thoughts and if not if Ragland falls ID take him. Harlan Miller in the 3rd
I’m thinking Harlan Miller now for CB
WOW!!!!!!
DID THEY REALLY NEED TO TRADE UP TO GET HIM?
They had to beeline some one else was eyeing him
He was not expected to go in the 1st round
Well
I loved garnett but we got out OL
Garnett – good pick by SF best OG in draft
Chip Kelly trades up to KC for Garnett OG from Stanford….sheesh
Lol, so an OG is worth 3 picks? So Chip Kelly land.
I wouldn’t worry about either of those guys piggy. I’d still take Nkemdiche
Could Dodd fall to 42?
It’s looking like a high probably
I bet the panthers take alexander or Fuller
Wow, garnett in the first round
Goodnight guys! Catch ya tomorrow! GO MIAMI!!!
I told you fuckers garnett was a bad ass
Downunder, I hope we land Dodd now that most of the top CB’s are gone
…or Ogbah
Still lots of talent out there second round is going to be exciting. Put up pools for 2nd and 3 Rd round picks
Trade Albert to a LT needy team for a 2nd & 4th round pick, then the Phins will add some damn talent!
Would be lucky to get the 2nd by itself. Maybe a 3rd
Well ya don’t have to worry about it piggy
I’d rather have Bullard anyways
Nkemdiche gone
Nkemdiche is gone….we didn’t need him.
One of the OGs that shut him down….. Tretola
Yes, I’d take Bullard, Dodd, Ogbah
I like Ogbah
He’s the next Ziggy Ansah
GD… Dodd, Spence or Bullard would make me extremely happy. Then take the PK in the 3rd.LOL
The dropping of Laremy Tunsil changes everything.
LT Albert/Tunsil/Young
LG Bushrod/Douglas/Thomas
C Pouncey/Douglas
RG Urbik/Turner/?
RT James/Tunsil/Young
I know, no starter with the 1st rd pick? Big time depth and future also matters.
I think maybe Tunsil plays inside in his rookie year
No way. I think they move Albert inside instead of taking a really talented young LT and do that to him
Future? But Timmy, you always talk about how we are trying to win now with the big contracts like for Suh….lol 😉
Oy! Look at the contracts. Protecting RT is a big part of it. He’s in his 5th season.
No big moves as was rumored by us still pretty satisfied with round 1
We defiantly rely have a shot at landing
Ragland
Jack
Alexander
Dodd
Ogbah
Or Bullard
So we should get a very good player at 42
Indeed
Ogbah, Bullard or Dodd could go next 2 picks
That’s the DT I liked
Vernon Fuckin Bitler…WTF?
He’s really good man
That surprises me
I like lotulelei and kawann short
It might be an odd pick considering the team but the player is a beast
I think he might be this year’s Arron Donald
They can move Albert inside too d
He played OG at Virginia
He knows how to play the position
I know that’s why I said that lol 🙂 ID move him before I moved Tunsil
Tim:
No way Tunsil is not starting. The question is is at LG or LT?
Trade Albert tomorrow for a 2nd & 4th, or 3rd & 4th and keep filling holes baby!
Get rid of Albert while he’s healthy damn it!
No keep him and have a very talented OL for a change
They’d do that in a heartbeat, but he’s making too much to receive that in return.
That preserves A DE for us @ #42
This was a really interesting round 1
Yes it was
Germain Ifedi to end the 1st round, sorry Cheatriots
Alright round 1 is done and Hulk not angry but Hulk tired
AFC East will be green with envy over Phins new stud LT.
Round 2, still on board lots of good talent at needs, just to name a few….
Myles Jack
Reggie Ragland
Mackenzie Alexander
Kevin Dodd
Noah Spence
Derrick Henry
Emmanuel Ogbah
Kevin Dodd would be awesome for us.
The Tunsil pick was a near miracle for us. We have a new, younger, healthier LT and we can kick Albert inside. We shore up that RG spot and we are looking pretty good. Now, if we had a RB to go with this offense…(Brian in NY still holding on to his avi)
Tunsil now with a chip on his shoulder ready to prove the other 12 teams WRONG!!!
Ken, we’ll see. A Tunsil is a better option than a Sam Young or a Fox or a Colombo etc.
add to my list above for Rd 2 & even 3 for us….
Jonathan Bullard
Su’a Cravens
Kendall Fuller
Deion Jones
Sean Davis
Devontae Booker
CJ Prosise
Kenneth Dixon
Round 2, still on board lots of good talent at needs, just to name a few….a few could slip to the 3rd as well, like a couple RB’s.
Myles Jack
Reggie Ragland
Mackenzie Alexander
Kevin Dodd
Noah Spence
Derrick Henry
Emmanuel Ogbah
Jonathan Bullard
Su’a Cravens
Kendall Fuller
Deion Jones
Sean Davis
Devontae Booker
CJ Prosise
Kenneth Dixon
Yup. A ton of talent still left. Rumors are that Jaylon Smith goes in the 2nd. Maybe a team like the Niners that has a surplus of picks takes a shot.
Good call
Don’t forget about Xavien Howard.
Yes, he fits the big press corner bill. 6’0 201
Very physical, compares to Byron Maxwell, he had 21 pass break-ups and nine interceptions over the past two seasons but just average speed.
The video with Deion Sanders talking to Tunsil was good.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000657323/article/laremy-tunsil-says-he-received-money-from-ole-miss-official?campaign=tw-cf-sf25316497-sf25316497