The Dolphins managed to get perhaps the top DB in the 2018 NFL Draft and stayed put at #11 to do it as well. As usual, admittedly, Minkah wasn’t my pick, but also as usual, I can see why we got him. I think it’s clear the FO, Gase, and defensive coaches alike, all felt like we don’t really have that deep safety. Minkah is not only going to be a deep safety, he can cover in the slot, on the outside like a CB, and may possibly be the guy to cover TE’s. We’ll see, not going to get too far ahead of myself here.
There are many positives to glean from this selection, he thoroughly solidifies our secondary, and our CB’s will look even better knowing they have a guy they can rely on to pick up deep receivers in our zone defense. There’s also a negative. We just signed safety T.J. McDonald to a 4YR/$24M contract through 2021. Why? We have all-pro safety Reshad Jones, and if they wanted to draft a safety with our first pick, which is fine, why sign McDonald to a 4 YR contract. The only thing that makes sense is that T.J. McDonald will be our hybrid S/LB and most likely nickel LB. Can he handle that role? We’ll find out this season, for better or for worse. I’m not trying to knock the Fitzpatrick pick in the least, but I would love to see what the plan is, and ya know, hope there actually IS a plan.
In the meantime – Welcome to Miami Minkah Fitzpatrick, may you be blessed with a long and healthy career All-Pro career here in Miami! Go #29!
Royce Freeman still there???
Yes
Freeman, Scarbrough and Kelly are all there
Malik Jefferson is still in on the board
These days, you are almost always picking between a receiving TE and a blocking one. It’s rare to find a guy who is truly really good at both. Gesicki and Goedert are actually pretty similar. Neither is much of a blocker. The big thing for me is one did it against the Big Ten and one did it against guys who were closer to HS players. If you’ve ever actually spent time around players at these different levels, you can see the difference immediately.
***
I’m not saying small school guys can’t be successful, of course they can…and have. But, I picture him playing against a kid like Fitzpatrick, and I don’t see the same result in my head. He might be a beast, but I just gotta see it against high end talent before I can buy in. I’ve seen Gesicki do it. Goedert is a Midwest guy, and I am rooting for him. I’ll be following his career. I would have been fine either way…just more comfortable with Gesicki at this point.
We’ve been drafting big school in recent years based on what you’re saying.
Drake and Gore will probably combine for 350 rushes in 2018, just saying.
Damn Jets pick in front of us this round.
There goes carter
Aww there goes Carter to the Giants
oh well Carter is a good one but we are stacked at DE and NY really needs one.
ditto Chad Thomas
Wonder if Giants go QB
son,
Did you like Carter? I did.
WY liked him
Ross loves him some Michigan guys… Hanging in there for Mo Hurst!
Is that Houston’s first pick?
Justin Reid is a good safety,
but we are now royally loaded at Safety. 🙂
There’s a DT gone but not one I totally wanted.
Hurst, Phillips, and (ahem) Randolph still available as we are now the 4th pick up
I like Mason Rudolph.
lmao. typo. sorry
Figured. Just blame autocorrect. That’s what I do.
My list
Hurst
Phillips
Freeman
Malik Jefferson
Rudolph
Ian Thomas
Falk
John Kelly
Scarbrough
perfect
wrap them up. we’ll take them all. send the bill to “Ross, S. Fla.”
If we want a QB a decent one should be there for us.
Yep – I think Falk Is as good as any QB in this draft
I’ve been away for a bit. Who are you days64?
I was wondering that as well.
He posted once before as I recall
Steve from southern Indiana… Home of Bob Griese
Fred Warner is another good player that i was hoping for in the 4th. Oh well.
Denver grabs Rudolph?
Booooooo
ROYCE!!!
bye bye Royce
DAMN I wanted Royce to drop to us in the 4th also
Oregon has produced some decent RBs lately
Now I want to wait until the 4th for a RB
I hope we take Falk, Hurst or Phillips now
I’m feeling QB for us.
Please not Rudolph
Well Kalen Ballage is still out there.
Unless the stej trade down to somebody, we’ve got a GOOD SHOT to get a high-caliber backup for Tannehill (Mason Rudolph).
I prefer Falk but I would be happy with Rudolph
if we can get Rudolph in 3rd we are getting a really good value. Jets won’t take QB so Rudolph is ours if we want him.
Agreed
didn’t want no guy from no ft hays state
Come on down Mankins!
OR Hurst?
pick is in
Randy, yeah I like Carter he was one of the better players on the board heading towards our pick
They just went to commercial
Every time. LOL
Of course, right to commercial
Always 🥃🥃
Of course commercial
I am guessing Hurst
I know the pick already (it’s on twitter)
I couldn’t resist
ME too!
ahhh… I’m typing here so as to NOT go look.
Ken, is the OU vs OSU thing kicking in? 🙂
Don’t trust OK state QBs too system oriented
They’re saying a lot of teams took Hurst off their board because of his heart condition
so you’re saying Hurst doesn’t have heart?
Nice.
Jerome Baker!!!!
OSU 🙄
ok. Baker. nice. a bit of a reach (?) but his buddy will be happy. Let the competition begin at LB
what’s the word on baker?
Undersized cover LB
Kind of a hybrid between safety and LB
There is our LB
There’s your quick new era LB. Solid pick.
He wasn’t on any of our radars
But he’s the same kind of player as Skai Moore who is what I was thinking
Man we love OSU linebackers
Lol – that’s right
That is a great pick … that guy is a tough MF.
I saw a few mocks who had Baker to Fins in 2nd even though he had a late 3rd grade. I guess we’ll target Falk in 4th. Can’t believe I totally forgot about Baker (chasing shiny QBs and all) lol
He’s a 4.5 40 guy as well.
We needed a LB like this guy. This is Roquan on the cheap.
in 2016. He garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, making 83 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks while starting 12 of 13 games. He also intercepted two passes, including one against Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield that he returned 68 yards for a score; Baker also had seven tackles, 1.5 for loss, in that contest.
days64 says:
April 27, 2018 at 9:42 pm (Edit)
Steve from southern Indiana… Home of Bob Griese
Welcome to the blog.
Yes welcome to the blog
Thanks been around for some time… Love reading everyone’s insights, You guys are my go to place for everything Dolphins news / rumors.
So far we have 3 guys that can start day or see serious playing time right out of the gate
The Dolphins are getting faster in all phases. Another big school guy.
I hate OSU more than any college, but they produce good players….the assholes,
Fitzpatrick, Gesicki, Baker
drafting some ballers!!
“He’s fast and athletic and all that, but he just doesn’t have much grit to his game. He’s just not tough. No dog. I like them to be fast but I will take tough over fast any day.” — AFC defensive coach
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jerome-baker?id=32462018-0002-5601-29d4-3b922ef6c9a1
I call bullshit on that.
not on you Mr. Wy
RUDOLPH to the Stealers*!!!
Ugh. To the Steelers
As long it wasn’t to us that is fine. Let’s get Falk instead
so we just drafted TJ McDonald?
He’s actually a LB
Man speed speed speed …
This guy can cover TEs as he is faster than most of ’em and just as fast as all the big RBs.
He’s 6’1 229 which would be a nice-sized RB.
Every move we’ve made in the offseason and draft has been about speed. It’s been the mission since Gase got here. We’re a really fast team on both sides of the ball.
Now go look at the size too.
Did Chris Mortenson have a stroke?
I guess we really want to stop those 3rd down conversions
And convert more of our own
That’s too
It’s the 3rd down draft
After the baker pick, M13’s suggestion to trade McDonald makes a lot more sense to me
But what can you get for him?
I really questioned why we signed him to an extension before he played a down.
He’s Telvin Smith
Yep
Wyoming,
I agree with that snippet on Baker, but it’s just kind of the way the NFL is going these days. Coverage ability is trumping just about everything else on the edge. Baker isn’t gritty, but he doesn’t really play soft. He’s a space guy….and he might be really good on blitzes.
****
I am such a positive poster!!!
Poser doesn’t have a T!
😉
I wonder if we’re going to trade up into the 3rd for Falk
That would be good
I would like that
But there are other qbs
He might not go in the 3rd
was thinking the same thing. Add Falk then walk away from the draft and start prepping for UDFA 🙂
Yup. I’d like to see them make a move like that for a change. Not for a subpar RB and a WR who probably won’t even be on the team this year.
Now this is a guy from one of the premier programs in the US.
I hate trying to grow up small school guys to NFL level.
This guy is a starter in the f’in Big 10.
Baker played in 33 games and started 25 times. Baker led the Buckeyes in tackles in 2017 with 72 total stops, and he finished his career 158 tackles. Included was 17.5 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks. He also had two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups.
Welcome Days.
The other guys on here are some of the greatest you could read.
24/7 football education.
In terms of QBs Falk, White, Lauletta and Benkert all still out there
Riley Ferguson too
I like all those guys better than Rudolph
me too
There hoes Gallup
Piggy has hoes on the brain
Always
days64 says:
April 27, 2018 at 9:54 pm (Edit)
Thanks been around for some time… Love reading everyone’s insights, You guys are my go to place for everything Dolphins news / rumors.
Always good to see new folks on here. We seem to piss people off with some regularity so we have to restock. 😂
Lol
Good draft so far.
Infinity Wars is awesome.
You saw it?
Going tomorrow. Taking my sons
Yea, loved Infinity Wars. I think it’s a must see on the big screen.
Days
Jump in anytime!
The waters cold as hell and full of—–Well you’ll find out! 😉
Welcome days. Good luck! Lol
Notable: Baker makes big plays in big games. He returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead at No. 14 Oklahoma in 2016. He had 13 tackles in an overtime win at No. 8 Wisconsin in 2016. He had a then-career-high 15 tackles against No. 3 Michigan, plus a critical interception late in the third quarter with Ohio State down by 10, in the 2016 win over Michigan. And he had a career-high 16 tackles in the 2017 Big Ten championship game win over Wisconsin.
All three prospects we drafted are 4.5ish or sub 4.5. SPEED!!!! DB, TE and LB. Like Fonzie would say, aye!!!! 😉
also all 3 are good runners of the ball … long pick 6es by both D guys and Gesicki looks like a frickin giant antelope.
We drafted speed on defense to cover guys and also added a TE that other teams have to worry about. It’s not easy to cover 6-6 250, 4.55 and athletic. Who’s doing that?
I have a feeling Orlando Brown is going to be really good. I know he bombed at the combine but I have watched a lot of OU football and he was a stud
Perfect for the Ravens!
Filled a need with Baker, he makes 7 LBers on the team
Where has Tradypants been?
Spooning with Grier
You’re going to conjure him up.
we still have some good DTs out there. I know it’s a long way to go till our late 4th round picks, but we need to get a DT in that round.
You guys can have your QB in the 4th if you want one, although I don’t think we need one.
I’d prefer a RB to go with the DT we need.
OL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. Let’s get a DT next and then you guys can have your offensive guys. Lol.
Arden Key went really late
Yea, I didn’t like Key or Landry as possible 1st rounders back in January, and it looks like the GMs ultimately agreed.
LSU needs to do a better job with their athletes
All their athletes have character issues
They are notorious for players with character issues in multiple sports.
If we stay healthy we will skull fuck the Pats and the rest of the division. LOL
Tim showing his dark side
Someone snap this for blay-back later!
play
To me Jerome Baker in the 3rd rd is the same as Jimmy Johnson drafting Derrick Rodgers back in the day. Same type of 4-3 WOLB.
I can see that resemblance
Well this almost done. I will miss most of tomorrow’s draft. So it is up to you guys to get us Falk. I am entrusting to do that so don’t let me down
good luck with everything tomorrow Ken
Mike Hull is going to have a tough time making this team this year. He might hang on as the 6th LB/STs guy. That’s a good thing.
Bills going DT still no OL
Damn now i’ve lost my chance at 3 of my fave remaining DTs:
Derrick Nnadi, Harrison Phillips, and Deadrin Senat.
Damn, I liked Phillips, the Bills suck! LOL
As the 3rd round was coming to an end, I was hoping we would move up to get Phillips. …but the damn Bills had to get him. 😡
Maybe we can get Tim Settle tomorrow.
Never had a clue who Jerome Baker was before tonight….but he is fast and athletic. Seems to be a theme on D these days. Maybe they have something in mind.
He was always a 3rd or 4th rd LB.
CONGRATS TO MANITOBA as his Winnipeg Jets just won in Nashville 4-1, despite getting out shot by almost 3-1. Connor Hellebuycek was sensational in goal for the Jets, stopping 47 of 48 shots!!–
Tomorrow at 3 PM the Lightning host the Bruins in what promises to be a hard hitting game between two teams that genuinely dislike each other. Bruin players are promising to out-hit the host team. We’ll see which team gets a leg up in this Eastern Conference semi-final series.
———————
For the second year in a row, the Dolphins will wait until Day 3 of the draft to address their O-Line needs. No O-Line players are left on the board among the top 20 listed in the pre-draft mocks. Just ONE O-Line injury during the preseason could leave Miami in a REAL MESS similar to last year. But, then, the DOOFUS BRIGADE has seldom learned from their past mistakes, so why should they learn now?? Fitzpatrick and Gesicki are nice additions. But this team is still A LONG WAY from being a Super Bowl contender, even though the schedule seems a bit easier this season.
We probably won’t draft any OL tomorrow
So two 4th rd picks tomorrow – QB, DT or OL?
Followed by a 6 and two 7’s.
Really like our first 3 picks.
RB
I don’t think it has to be a RB. We can go heavy there next year.
The first 2 were who I wanted, Baker sounds like a good need pick.
Cote says TJs days are numbered, but that’s weak reporting. Small cap hit in 2019, if he doesn’t fit at other positions, but put him on the field first and let’s see how it works out.
Can’t wait to see our new D in action, 3 new studs counting Raekwon and the mighty Quinn makes 4.
You’re not allowed to feel that way, don’t you know everything sucks? LOL
Wow…3 starters, seem-threat te, db, and lb in first 3 rounds, I hope and pray. That’s awesome. Speed to cover our nemesis te’s and slots, lb’s and db’s for box, blitzing, gaps, and sidelines. AND, athletic, fast te with mismatch written all over him all over field, including red zone.
Boy, am I a Homer or what?
It’s ok to be a homer!
Tim has survived this long! 😉
Tre’quan Smith Wr UCF went at pick 91 to the Saints
Jordan Akins TE UCF went at pick 98 (compensatory) to the Texans
Third round for both is much higher than I expected.
So when Shaquem gets picked he’ll be the 4th Knight off the board.
We better be able to score points and stop the run or all speed on D won’t mean anything.
Yes sir. ..Scoring points should come easier this year….Homer hope.
I watched this a few times….then wondered if he’d be doing this over db’s and goal posts.
Rb, ol and dl depth, maybe QB today.
NEW BLOG UP!!
Can’t find…you sure?