 Defensive end Charles Harris, a Missouri product, was a first round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins were hoping Harris could take his college style of football to the professional ranks. As a rookie in 2017, Harris struggled, starting in two games and producing only two sacks.
This past season, Adam Gase’s final season as head coach, Harris’ game did not impress many, managing just one sack. Now that the page has turned, new head coach Brian Flores, who originally saw Harris twice a season during his New England Patriots tenure, gave Harris high praise during the NFL annual meetings in Phoenix, Arizona. “I’ve watched a lot of tape on all of our players. Charles, he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got athleticism. He plays hard and does a lot of things we like as a staff." Flores said. "When you talk about patience, I think he’s an interesting player on our team. I’m excited to see him on April 1st when the team reports.” Harris missed five games this past season due to a calf injury, as the Dolphins compiled a disappointing 7-9 campaign. The Miami front seven is expected to look unique in 2019, with the departure of Cameron Wake (Tennessee Titans) the release of Andre Branch, and the recent trade of Robert Quinn. With Harris entering his third season under his rookie contract, the former Missouri product hopes to quiet the experts across the football world. This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori  With the scouting combine over and free agency winding down, we look at the potential prospects that could be drafted in the first round this upcoming April.  Cardinals, Pick 1: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Ever since Murray weighed in at the Combine, he has almost been a lock to go first overall. The only question is which team drafts Murray. Here, the Cardinals keep the first overall pick and draft their new quarterback. New head coach Kliff Kingsbury has not been quiet about how much he loves Murray and drafting him would make Cardinals fans excited about the future. The only way I see the Cardinals moving from the pick or not drafting Murray is if an offer they cannot refuse comes up or if something unknown about Murray comes up.  49ers, Pick 2: Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama The 49ers would be drafting Nick Bosa if they were drafting off potential, but since it seems like the 49ers want to win now, they draft Williams. Williams is probably the most NFL ready player in this draft and it also fills a need for the 49ers. Dee Ford was recently traded to the 49ers which means that interior line is a bigger need than edge rusher for them. The addition of both Williams and Ford could make players such as Solomon Thomas and DeForest Buckner better or make them better.  Jets, Pick 3: Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio StateWith this pick the Jets draft a player that many people consider to be the best in this class. Nick is Joey Bosa's younger brother and many people, even older brother Joey, think that Nick is the better brother. If that is the case, the Jets would get a steal here. Bosa is a terrific pass rusher and has a terrific build to be a great player. Bosa has few flaws but one big thing that sticks out to people is that he missed all last season with a core injury. If this injury is only a one-time thing and Bosa can stay healthy then the 49ers and Cardinals might regret passing on him.  Raiders, Pick 4: Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky The luck of the Raiders continues with this pick when they draft Josh Allen, another player that is first overall pick worthy. Allen would be a great fit with the Raiders because they are desperately looking for a pass rusher since they traded Khalil Mack. Allen has the ability to rush the passer as well as drop back in coverage if needed. Allen has the same skill set as another former Raider in Bruce Irvin. Allen has the speed to chase down quarterbacks or to drop back in zone and cover the nearest tight end or running back. Allen will be a great addition to the Raiders' already young defensive line, and can hopefully give them all the spark they need.  Buccaneers, Pick 5: Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State Sweat blew people away at the NFL combine, which is why he is here at the fifth pick. There were reports out that Sweat has a heart condition. This condition is not supposed to scare teams away since he was cleared to participate in the Combine and Senior Bowl. Sweat was very dominant in college but his recent performances in the Senior Bowl and the Combine has boosted his stock and put him in the top 5 discussion. Sweat ran a 4.41 forty and him being 6’6” and 260 pounds, with that combination of size and speed, Sweat will be a force on an already talented Buccaneers defensive line.  Giants, Pick 6: Rashan Gary, Edge, Michigan Gary would be a great pick for the Giants, especially since they traded away Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison. He has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line, but he is best on the edge. Gary impressed everyone at the combine when he ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash which shows he does have some speed. Even though Gary ran that impressive 40 he does not use his speed in his game. He is very good at setting the edge when needed, so he is good against the run. The only move that he seems to use to rush the passer is his bull or power rush, but after this, the Giants might try to turn him into a more complete pass rusher.  Jaguars, Pick 7: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama After signing Nick Foles to a monster contract this free agency, the Jaguars use this pick to protect him. Williams is a top tackle in this draft but what makes him unique is that he can play either side. There have been some concerns about Williams' size and how he is not big enough to play tackle in the NFL. At 6’4” and 308 pounds, Williams is not the biggest player on the field but he beats players with his technique. Williams has great technique which helps him win battles that some people do not expect. If Williams can get stronger then he can possibly turn into the next Joe Thomas.  Lions, Pick 8: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU The Lions have many needs and corner is one of them. They already have an elite corner in Darius Slay, and with drafting Greedy Williams they will have two lockdown corners. The Lions could draft a defensive lineman here but due to the position being very deep, they take Williams. Williams is by far the best cover corner in this draft and has perfect size to go along with it at 6’2”. He does have some concerns about his effort on run plays, as he does not try to get off blockers or does not try to tackle the running back. Other than his lack of effort in the run game, Williams is an almost flawless corner and would give a much needed boost to the Lions defense.  Bills, Pick 9: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida The Bills addressed the receiver position in free agency so they draft Taylor to help protect quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills already have a respectable defense and offensive line is one of their biggest needs. Taylor is a fantastic run blocker, especially for the tackle position. He is a very aggressive blocker and is very athletic. Taylor showed in college that he can block any type of move that a defender will use, such as a spin move.  Broncos, Pick 10: Devin White, LB, LSU Denver needs to find a good linebacker that they can build around and White fits that description perfectly. White is a sideline to sideline player and was a prototypical middle linebacker in college. He is good against both the run and pass which is crucial with the Broncos being in the AFC West. White does have some issues with his instincts but when he starts to get used to NFL speed he will be the anchor of Denver’s defense for years to come.  Bengals, Pick 11: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Tight end is not a huge need for the Bengals but it is a position they would like more consistency in. Tyler Eifert was just re-signed by the Bengals on a one year deal, but knowing his history he will more than likely get hurt. Hockenson would be the player they thought they were getting when Eifert got drafted. Hockenson is the best all around tight end in the draft and one of the most pro-ready players in this draft. Hockenson would be a huge help in the run game as he can block both defensive lineman and linebackers. He would also give Andy Dalton another big target outside of A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.  Packers, Pick 12: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston After signing two edge rushers in free agency, the Packers boost their interior line by drafting Oliver. Oliver is a very versatile player, as he can play any position and there are even rumors that he can play linebacker in the NFL. Oliver is not as highly touted as he was in his earlier college career but he is still a dominant player. People have concerns that Oliver's pass rush has not developed as fast as they wanted but with NFL coaching, Oliver can develop his play more.  Dolphins, Pick 13: Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson The Dolphins could easily trade this pick so a team could draft Haskins or Miami themselves could draft Haskins. Instead Miami looks to keep rebuilding their team and draft a defensive end to replace Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn. Ferrell would be an excellent pick for Miami since he has some of the same measurables as Trey Flowers. That is key because new Dolphins coach Brian Flores is from New England and tried to sign Flowers this past offseason. Ferrell would give Miami another defensive player to build around. Ferrell is very good against the pass and even jamming tight ends off the line of scrimmage.  Falcons, Pick 14: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson Wilkins is another Clemson defensive lineman who is expected to go in the first round of the NFL draft. Wilkins has a good size and speed at 6’3” and 315 pounds and ran a 5.03 in the forty. The thing that makes Wilkins so great is that he is a great leader on and off the field. Many of his former players and coaches praised his character which is always a good thing. As for his play, he is very effective at the line of scrimmage and keep leverage while being engaged with blockers. If Wilkins can play at the level he played at in college he will be one of the NFL’s favorite players.  Redskins, Pick 15: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State The biggest question of this draft is, where will Dwayne Haskins go? People have said Haskins can go top 5, while others say the will fall out of the top 10. Here, Washington picks him up with the 15th pick. Even though they traded for Case Keenum earlier this offseason, Haskins would be a great fit in Jay Gruden’s system and could possibly start day one for Washington. Haskins has rivaled Kyler Murray for the top quarterback in the draft even through the two are completely different. Haskins is everything Gruden would want in a quarterback and then some, making him an excellent pick for Washington.  Panthers, Pick 16: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State Cam Newton has been subject to injuries his whole career. Now whether that is his fault or because he gets hit every play is the question. It is about time the Panthers get Newton some protection. Dillard was a four year starter for a pretty good offense and is a very athletic blocker. He is an all around good blocker in both the run and pass. He can drive defenders on run plays and can protect your quarterback in the pass game. Dillard will give the Panthers offensive line a very much needed boost.  Giants (via Browns), Pick 17: Daniel Jones, QB, DukeAfter the Giants pass on Haskins with the sixth pick they pick their franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. There have been reports that the Giants do not like Haskins at all and other reports saying they love him. If they are not interested in Haskins, Jones makes the most sense. Jones has been compared to current Giants quarterback, Eli Manning and because of that the Giants might be interested in drafting him. Jones has also worked out with the coach that coached the Manning brothers. If the Giants are serious about keeping Manning as their quarterback, and keeping their scheme the same, Jones would be the smartest pick.  Vikings, Pick 18: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma After Anthony Barr had a change of heart and re-signed with the Vikings, they need to address the offensive line position instead. Ford is very athletic for his 6’4” and 329 pound frame. He also has experience to play both guard and tackle which is very beneficial. Ford never gives up on a play and is very aggressive. His pass blocking is not the best but he should still be a day one starter so he can progress through the season.  Titans, Pick 19: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi Corey Davis did not turn out to be the player the Titans hoped for when they drafted him. Metcalf on the other hand is one of the most explosive receivers to come into the draft in recent memory. At 6’3” and 228 pounds, he ran a 4.33 forty and it blew people away. Due to Metcalf’s size and speed combination corners are going to have a tough time covering him. Hopefully with the addition of Metcalf, Davis can turn into the player everyone projected him to be.  Steelers, Pick 20: Byron Murphy, CB, WashingtonThe Steelers defense was the reason they lost games last year. The addition of Murphy will boost both their run and pass defense. Murphy had seven interception and 20 pass breakups on only 87 targets in his college career. For a corner he is very aggressive and can be a hard hitter. He is the perfect size for a slot corner but he can play outside due to his aggressiveness. Murphy would also be a great compliment with Joe Haden.  Seahawks, Pick 21: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa The Seahawks offensive line got progressively better as the season went on last year. That is why the Seahawks draft one of the most exciting players in this year's draft. Fant had one of the most impressive combines and was already considered to be a first round pick. At 6’4”and 250 pounds he is big enough to block edge rushers but running a 4.5 in the forty he is fast enough to outrun linebackers. The only issue with Fant is that he is not aggressive enough with blocking or when running routes. Once he realizes how to use his body better those weaknesses should go away.  Ravens, Pick 22: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan With the loss of C.J. Mosley, the Ravens are now looking for a new middle linebacker. Bush would immediately fill the void left by Mosley and is exactly the type of player the Ravens look for. Bush is the prototype of a modern middle linebacker although he is a bit undersized. Bush has the ability to cover sideline to sideline and is not scared to stick his nose in the run game. The only negative with Bush is that since he is a bit undersized, he can easily be bullied by guards. If Bush can find a way to get off blocks from bigger guys and improve his reaction time, the Ravens will have another star linebacker on their hands.  Texans, Pick 23: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Abram would replace Tyrann Mathieu who left in free agency. Abram is one of those safeties that can play as an extra linebacker. He is very aggressive and a hard hitter who is great in the run game. He is better against the run compared to the pass so he might get moved to linebacker later down the road. His hip movements are not the best so in order for him to be a great safety they will need to improve.  Raiders (via Bears), Pick 24: Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State The Raiders double down on edge rushers with their first two picks. Burns was very impressive during the combine and pairing him with Josh Allen would be deadly. The Raiders are only lacking edge rushers on their defensive line since they already have Johnathan Hankins and Maurice Hurst in the interior. Running a very impressive 4.53 forty will give the Raiders the ability to send Burns off the edge and he has the speed to chase down running backs. Burns is very athletic which makes it easy for him to get off or go around blockers. If Burns can set his frame and not give away his position when approaching blockers he can be a very good player.  Eagles, Pick 25: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama The Eagles running back position has been very inconsistent over the years. With Jacobs they get a dependable guy who can do it all. Jacobs has been praised by his coaches for his work effort. He is a traditional runner since he does not have breakaway speed but he makes good use of his blockers. Jacobs is also very good out of the backfield which is a crucial part of the Eagles offense. The best part about Jacobs' game is that he is very patient with his blocks and attacks the hole at the right time. Hopefully Jacobs will be the player the Eagles need to fix their running back woes.  Colts, Pick 26: Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple The Colts are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams. They are very young and they have a lot of cap space to grow. By drafting Ya-Sin the Colts boost their young defense and give much needed help to their secondary. Coaches love him and that shows that Ya-Sin is both coachable and a great player. Ya-Sin is great in coverage and can break on the ball at any given moment. He also is not scared to stick his nose in the run game which will help the Colts out as well.  Raiders (Via Cowboys), Pick 27: Irv Smith Jr, TE, Alabama Jared Cook was arguably Derek Carr’s favorite weapon this past year. He has left in free agency and the Raiders find his replacement in Smith. Even though the Raiders got plenty of weapons in free agency, the way Carr used Cook last year should be a reason why they draft Smith. Smith is more of a receiving tight end but he can block if needed. His blocking is a bit inconsistent but if he gains more weight and more coaching he will get better. He is not the biggest at 6’2” but he does have a little speed on him with a 4.62 forty. He has strong hands so he has the ability to be a red zone threat as well.  Chargers, Pick 28: Kaleb McGary, OT, WashingtonThe Chargers are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. The only position they really need help with is offensive line. McGary is a very good player but he has a lot of issues that just need to be worked out over time. He is a very effective blocker but he is not always consistent. He has potential to be a franchise tackle and with that the Chargers will be picking best player available based off of need.  Chiefs, Pick 29: Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson The Chiefs need all the defensive help they can get, especially since they traded away Dee Ford and released Justin Houston. Lawrence improved every year that he was in college. He is also very althletic and has great size at 6’4” and 342 pounds. The Chiefs have been looking for a new defensive tackle ever since Dontari Poe left and Lawrence could be that guy. Since the Chiefs do not have many defensive pieces, they could start to build their new defense around Lawrence.  Packers (via Saints), Pick 30: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma The Packers do not have many receivers outside of Davante Adams. Brown would give Aaron Rodgers a new weapon to play with. With Brown’s explosive speed Aaron Rodgers will have a lot of fun with him. Brown is the best route runner in this year's draft and with his speed, he should make an impact day one. He does have some recent injury concerns but teams should not worry about that since he did not participate in the combine to stay healthy.  Rams, Pick 31: Garrett Bradbury, G/C, North Carolina State The Rams are a very complete team but the offensive line is a huge need. Bradbury is the best interior lineman in the draft and would become an instant starter for the Rams. He has great hand placement and once he is locked onto a defender he stays locked on. Bradbury is a bit undersized and uses the same blocking moves every time, making him predictable. Bradbury’s size is not that big of a concern since he very technical but with NFL coaching he will start to use different blocking moves, which will only improve his game.  Patriots, Pick 32: Zach Allen, Edge, Boston College All throughout the combine, scouts said that Allen plays and acts like a Patriot. He is very coachable and does whatever he is told. The Patriots draft Allen to replace Trey Flowers who they just lost in free agency. At 6’4” and 280 pounds, Allen can rush the passer and set the edge.
Allen also has incredible football IQ which is something the Patriots look for in players. He does not have great length so he may be on blocks longer than scouts like but Allen always keeps his eyes in the backfield to know where the ball is going. It seems like Allen is a player that the Patriots will love to have and also need. This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj  With the scouting combine over and free agency winding down, we look at the potential prospects the Miami Dolphins could draft this upcoming April.  Round 1, Pick 13: Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson If the Miami Dolphins want to boost their pass rush, then Ferrell will be an excellent pick. Ferrell played in a 4-3 scheme in college but should have no problem adjusting to a 3-4 or a hybrid since he is so athletic. Ferrell is very explosive off the ball and uses his long arms to his advantage whenever he is engaged with a blocker. Although Ferrell does use his long arms to his advantage, he is not the best at getting off of blocks. This could be an issue early in his career, but once he starts to adjust to the NFL and learns how to use his body he will turn into a great pass rusher. Brain Flores could use Ferrell as his new Trey Flowers since they both have similar measurables. Both players are 265 pounds but Ferrell is two inches taller. Having a player that could act like a Trey Flowers would be a big addition to Miami’s defense in the long run.  Round 2, Pick 48: Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi StateThe Miami Dolphins double down on defensive linemen with this pick. After getting an edge rusher at 13 the Dolphins get a player to boost the middle of their defense. Simmons was a projected top 10 pick in this draft before he tore his ACL last month, training for the combine. Simmons will immediately boost this defensive line as he was a force in college, especially in the run game. His junior year alone he had 63 tackles, 18 of those being a tackle for a loss, two sacks, and four passes deflected and one forced fumble. Due to his injury, Simmons will more than likely be out all of the 2019 season but drafting a player of his potential and skill set at this pick would be a steal, especially with Miami's rebuilding mindset.  Round 3, Pick 78: Trey Pipkins, OT, Sioux FallsPipkins is a very small school prospect but he turned some heads at the Senior Bowl. Since the Senior Bowl teams have been doing some research on him and realized he could be a diamond in the rough. At 6’6” and 309 pounds he has perfect size to play tackle in the NFL. Teams have seen that he is very athletic and has potential to get stronger, so he has potential to be a starter in a year or two. Pipkins is a better pass blocker compared to run blocking but if he gets stronger and improves his technique, him and Tunsil can be one of the best young tackle duos in the league.  Round 4, Pick 116: Jamel Dean, CB, AuburnDean turned some heads at the combine when he ran a 4.3 in the forty-yard dash and at 6’1”, with very long arms, he has potential to be a lockdown corner. Dean had 28 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions this past season. Dean is not the most polished corner but has shown flashes of great play. Based off of his size, and speed alone, Dean could turn into a Jalen Ramsey type player. Dean does have a medical history having three knee surgeries since high school, so that could be why the Dolphins pass on him. Although Dean does have an injury history, if he can break some bad habits he has and turn them into good habits, the Dolphins could have a very scary secondary.  Round 5, Pick 151: Ben Powers, OG, OklahomaPowers was a part of one of college football’s best offensive lines in Oklahoma. Powers has experience at both guard spots, which is very important knowing Miami’s history of offensive line injuries. Powers is an exceptional pass blocker but a below average run blocker. Powers does not play with his lower body much and relies on his upper body to block defenders. He does use his hands well and is always square when blocking. If Powers can learn how to use his legs more and develop his run blocking, he will not be a bad backup and could potentially compete for a starting spot down the road.  Round 7, Pick 233: Dakota Allen, LB, Texas TechI had Allen going to Miami in the sixth round but due to his poor combine, Allen falls to the Dolphins in the seventh round. Allen has potential to be a great pick for them but will need time to develop. Allen has been praised by many of his coaches because he is a team player and is a very coachable player. He is also a good tackler so whenever Allen has someone wrapped up then you know the ball carrier will go down. Allen does have some issues reading plays and over-committing on plays but this can all be changed with good coaching.  Round 7, Pick 234: Jacob Dolegala, QB, Central ConnecticutDolegala was not even projected to be drafted until he worked out at University of Buffalo’s pro day. After the pro day, many teams wondered who he was and now there are rumblings that he could be drafted. Playing at a small school, many teams will wonder how he plays against NFL competition.
Even playing at the level he is, he did not put up spectacular numbers. Last season he had a 52.9% completion percentage, 1,953 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Scouts are just interested in what he has to offer as a quarterback and it would be smart of Miami to draft him to see what he can do. At 6’6” he has NFL height but more than likely will be a practice squad player so he can develop. This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj  In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected former Alabama standout Minkah Fitzpatrick as the 14th overall selection, hoping to boost its secondary.
Add another Fitzpatrick to the roster. Two days after trading Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins signed journeyman quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, to a two-year, $11 million deal, with incentives that can raise his total contract between $17-20 million. Prior to the Fitzpatrick signing, Miami reportedly met with former Louisville product, Teddy Bridgewater, a Miami native. Bridgwater decided to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, nonetheless. Fitzpatrick opened the 2018 season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, with Jameis Winston suspended due to violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. Fitzpatrick wound up starting seven of sixteen games, producing two wins, seventeen touchdowns and twelve interceptions. Tannehill, whom Miami acquired in the 2012 NFL Draft, was dealt to Tennessee, ending a seven-year stretch with the Dolphins, counting the entire 2017 season Tannehill was inactive. Miami seemingly has their eyes locked on the 2020 NFL Draft and its quarterback class, a class that includes Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason and Shea Patterson. If Miami’s goal is to acquire a franchise-changing quarterback in 2020, winning football games in 2019 will not be on the top of the list. Fitzpatrick’s overall career record is 50-75-1, having started for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals and St. Louis Rams. This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori  “To stay or not to stay, that is the question.” A Jimmy Johnson figure appeared in my dream and wouldn’t stop talking about this top-secret Draft Pick Value Chart he made. Then we popped a beer and caught one heck of a Sailfish! Catch and Release of course, we aren’t a-holes. Then I woke up and realized I just left the NFL Network on when I passed out. But the question remains. Do the Dolphins trade up, down or stay? Well, since I have zero influence on the top brass I’m going to assume they won’t be trading up or down and they stay put. Which for the purpose of this article I’m actually quite excited about. There is some great depth that should fall just about perfectly to Miami that will provide a Pro Bowl upside and fill a need. That’s a combination I can get behind. Every year there is a QB feeding frenzy and this year won’t be different. It’s highly probable that three guys get over drafted much like the year the Dolphins selected Ryan Tannehill. Remember Brandon Weeden? Yeah, he went 22nd that year with talk he might have actually gone third. But I digress, these three guys are excellent additions should they fall to Miami.  Ed Oliver, DL, Houston I’ve seen Oliver fall to middle of the first round or as early as the top ten in every mock draft. If he were to slide to Miami, Oliver would have the upside of Warren Sapp. Great feet and very technical. He’s got all the pieces to anchor that line and retire a Miami Dolphin. I love the small school guy who grows up in college even if he was slightly overlooked in the college recruiting process. You can call it “playing with a chip” if you want to, but this guy has a great skill set.  Christian Wilkins, DL, ClemsonI don’t think Clelin Ferrell will be there, but honestly, I would take either of the premier guys from Clemson. I prefer the size and scheme versatility of Wilkins a shade more. 6’4” and 310 pounds that has a well-coached game that complements his big man athleticism is irreplaceable. Many guys are saying that Geno Atkins is his comparison but I think a slightly shorter Richard Seymour is more suitable.  Cody Ford, OT, OklahomaWith the loss of Ja’Wuan James at RT, Ford has the athleticism to play either tackle spot. The jury is still out on Laremy Tunsil - though things are trending up - and one thing we do know is that left guard is a position that Tunsil can excel at. Left tackle we will see how that unfolds but I think having a little left tackle insurance in Cody Ford makes all the sense in the world.
Bottom line, we know that the trenches need the most work for the Miami Dolphins. They have lost all sorts of talent there and this is a priority. They can pick up a center and guard in later rounds. There is always talent to be had later. Finding first round talent at tackle or the defensive line provides the ability to lock a great player up for four years before the big salary cap busting contract comes which many times comes in free agency. This story was written by Steven Paulsen. Follow him on Twitter: @SarcasticPhin 
Education has been a key focus for the Miami Dolphins for decades, and never has it been more important for kids to get the proper education they need in school than right now, in a world where lack of knowledge leads to extreme struggles later in life.
That's why early Monday morning, the Nat Moore Foundation - which now resides under the umbrella of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, and is the pillar of the foundation's education fund - gathered at Turnberry Isle to host their annual golf classic for the Nat Moore Endowment Fund. "We started probably 25-26 years ago, we're raising money to send kids to college or to continue their education even through vocational trade public service." said Nat Moore. "One of the things I was challenged with by Steve Ross and Stuart Miller and some of the guys that have supported us dearly was, how do we help the most kids graduating from high school, get certified to go to work? So two years ago, we involved the vocation and trade, as well as scholarships."
Up until about two years ago, the event was hosted as an independent event by the Nat Moore Foundation, but now it enjoys the benefits of being a part of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which gives them a little extra boost to help even more kids throughout Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Jennifer Jehn, who is the senior vice president of the Miami Dolphins Foundation as well as the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, credits teamwork for the events being able to come together so seamlessly in spite of everything else they have on their plate already. "Well it all starts with a really good team," said Jehn. "One of our values at the Miami Dolphins is teamwork. Teamwork at work is really our community initiative, and we're committed to leveling the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated, united South Florida." And to become more educated, it has to be a priority, and the Dolphins see it as such which is why they have a hand in so many of their alumni charities dedicated to helping the youth of South Florida. Nat Moore's Endowment Fund helps the high school graduates, the Jason Taylor Foundation's entire goal is empowering youth, and that's not even counting the things the franchise does of their own volition.
There's no question it's a priority, and everyone involved recognizes that. "You have to change with the times," said former Dolphins fullback Keith Byars. "As long as you're well-educated, you can be adaptive ... you're giving kids an opportunity to get involved, through their education, with whatever field of technology, whatever what have you; you're gonna be prepared." "One of the groundsmen, he was like, 'Sam, oh my God, I remember you coming to Nat Moore's tournament, he gave me a scholarship!' And now he's working for the Dolphins, having an opportunity to be a groundsman there." said former Dolphins cornerback and current Chiefs defensive backs coach Sam Madison. "Just one of those things, and there's many other stories in itself that we can go into, but those are the types of things where you go, you come back, see these kids that you had an opportunity to help hands-on, and then they're being successful." Breaks aren't easy to find in this world, and so it's telling that the Miami Dolphins are attempting to lead the way in the NFL to try and give students in need of a little boost, just what they need to potentially find success. Sometimes, a chance is all that's needed, and the Dolphins embrace that and make dreams come true in ways that often gets overlooked. Yes, they spent the day playing golf, someone even went home with a new car thanks to getting a hole in one...but the intention is unmistakable, and the success stories attached to it is undeniable. Lives are being changed thanks to the Miami Dolphins franchise, and there's no telling how the world could change thanks to the contributions made by folks who show they care, just by swinging a club on a Monday morning. This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung  The Miami Dolphins have re-signed wide receiver DeVante Parker to a 2-year for $11.2 million. When Dolphins fans saw that, they all had the same reaction.
“Why?” All Parker has done as a Miami Dolphin since he was drafted with the 14th pick in the 2015 draft is get hurt, hear about how this year was the year he would break out, and flash his potential. It seems like at least one game a year, Parker shows the fans how good of a player he can be. For example, this past year, Parker had six catches for 134 yards against the Texans; in 2017, Parker had a couple of average games such as four catches for 85 yards against the Chargers, five catches for 76 yards against the Raiders, and six catches for 89 yards against the Bills. In 2016, Parker had two games that stood out, when he had eight catches for 106 yards against the Patriots and when he had five catches for 103 yards against the Chargers. His rookie season, Parker ended the season on a three game stretch where he had 13 catches, 286 yards, and a touchdown. After these games people started asking questions. “Is he finally breaking out?” “Should we keep him for just one more year?” “Where has this been his whole career?” Well thanks to Brian Flores and Chris Grier, we will have at least one more season with Parker to find out whether or not Parker will be a part of the rebuild. The reason why Parker was re-signed is because he accepted a team friendly deal that can only be beneficial to the Dolphins. Throughout the deal, Parker has incentives if he plays in X-amount of games. That incentive is due to his injury history which we all know is a problem. The second year of the contract is also a team option meaning it will be Miami’s choice if Parker stays a Dolphin after the 2019 season. The team option in this deal is the best part of this deal. Let's say Parker does happen to breakout this season and impresses the new coaching staff, Miami can then pick up his team option and keep him for another year. On the other hand, if Parker just breaks our hearts again then Miami can decline the team option and leave Parker a free agent and not pay him a penny for the 2020 season. It seems like Flores and company have faith that Parker can turn into the player we all expected him too or at least see the potential we all see at least once a year. Due to this, Parker will be a Dolphin another year but with a new coaching staff, meaning he has a clean slate. If Flores can turn Parker into a star receiver then all Dolphin fans will be pleasantly surprised, but if not then that would be another wasted pick from the Philbin era. This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj  Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whom Miami drafted as the eighth overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, was officially dealt to the Tennessee Titans Friday afternoon, according to a number of league sources. Miami will send Tannehill and a sixth-round selection to the Titans, whereas Tennessee will send a 2020 fourth-round choice and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
During his Miami tenure, Tannehill compiled a total record of 42-46 in six seasons of work, piling up 20,434 total passing yards, 123 touchdowns and 75 interceptions, finishing with a career 62.8 completion percentage. Staying healthy on a consistent basis was quite a struggle for Tannehill, inactive for 24 games due to injuries sustained in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, performing at the highest mark in his professional career, Tannehill sustained a brutal leg injury versus the Arizona Cardinals, causing Tannehill to miss the remainder of the season. Matt Moore was brought in relief, leading the Dolphins to the postseason, before an early wild-card exit. In the summer of 2017, during a training camp session, Tannehill ran a play, landing awkwardly on the same knee injured in 2016. The incident required season-ending injury, which led to the signing of Jay Cutler to a one-year, $10 million deal. Tannehill will back-up Marcus Mariota, who has also struggled to stay healthy on a consistent basis. Mariota has yet to play a full sixteen game season with Tennessee. Tannehill leaves Miami with a $13.4 million dead cap hit on the Dolphins’ total salary cap in 2019, plus the effects of the $5 million signing bonus Miami incorporated. Tannehill is not the first Dolphin shipped to Tennessee in what has been a dramatic offseason period. DE Cameron Wake, who has spent his entire 10-year career with the Dolphins, was signed to a three-year, $23 million deal earlier this week. Currently, the Dolphins have two quarterbacks on the active depth chart: former Detroit Lion Jake Rudock, who has yet to start in an NFL contest, and Luke Falk, who Miami acquired off waivers from Tennessee before the opening of the 2018 regular season. The hope was whether Ryan Tannehill can lead Miami to a championship or not, and the answer was solved, point blank. This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori  Dear Ryan, There have been so many emotions that Dolphins fans have gone through with you as our franchise QB. From the moment you were drafted eighth overall in 2012, we held onto hope that you were going to be our next longtime signal caller. I remember saying, finally, we have found a QB after Marino. It began with Mike Sherman & Zac Taylor, your former college coach at A & M being named OC and QB coach by head coach Joe Philbin. The excitement was contagious and I was a huge fan of your skills and your intelligence. Fast forward to 2019 and the fans are saying goodbye to start all over AGAIN! Somewhere in between 2012 and 2019, I became disenchanted with the way things had been going. As a fan, we look for people to blame. This fan blamed you…a lot! Lately, I have had time to reflect and recharge my batteries getting ready for the offseason activities. And I also wanted to say to you that I am sorry for blaming everything on you and I will truly miss you as a player and a person. A wise man once told me that a real man doesn’t point fingers but rather thumbs, something you have been doing since you arrived in South Florida. I am now convinced that you have been stuck in a bad situation with bad ownership, a horrendous front office and so many different offensive philosophies. I truly believe you were in a no-win situation. First, I want to say that you are one of the most humble professional athletes I have ever seen. You never pointed fingers since you arrived in Miami. You always stood tall, no matter how difficult of a defeat and took the blame for everything that went wrong. That’s admirable. Your front office failed you repetitively. Looking back at it, it makes me sick to my stomach the amount of changes and instability this organization gave you. You were the most sacked QB in your first few seasons due to the inability to develop an offensive line. Mike Pouncey was never on the field, Bullygate hit the airwaves, you never had a TE to throw to, your receivers were subpar and then the knee injuries happened. Your physical toughness was bound to catch up with you after the weekly beatings you took in the pocket. But your mental toughness never wavered. That’s admirable. Since the new regime arrived in Miami, it’s only fair that they wanted to hit the reset button and start from scratch. As a lifelong fan, this is the first time I have been this excited since Jimmy Johnson’s big splash in 1996. You deserve, more than anybody, another shot to be a starting QB for an organization that has some stability. Your dedication to the Tennessee Titans franchise, its fans and your teammates will earn you that opportunity. At this juncture, you are bound for greatness whether it be on the gridiron or in your personal life. Life after football isn’t that far away. You were a biology major destined for medical school. It’s never too late when your playing career is over. Your heart is second to none and I hope my son has your mental toughness and big heart when he gets older. The world would be a better place filled with people like you. Your family did an amazing job raising the young man you came to be. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your hard work with the Miami Dolphins. This writer wishes you, Lauren and Stella Rose all the best in your future endeavors. This story was written by James Barbaro. Follow him on Twitter: @thebigbear1977  Back in 2001, Louder Than a Bomb was founded through the Young Chicago Authors, by Kevin Coval (YCA Artistic Director) and Anna West to give middle and high school youth a place to express themselves in ways that the world had never seen before. Then in 2013, in conjunction with Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, the Jason Taylor Foundation decided to throw their hats into the ring and start the Louder Than a Bomb Florida competition, giving the students of Broward County an opportunity to express themselves with the spoken word in a safe and comfortable environment. "We met and spoke with the folks from Young Chicago Authors; with their blessing we brought the format to South Florida." said Vice President of Operations for the Jason Taylor Foundation, Sean Todd. "It's very rewarding to see the poets have the platform, and it's an honor for us to provide that platform to them where they can speak their truth." 39 schools across at least ten different locations competed in the preliminary bouts which spanned over two days, and the highlighted bout for this story took place at the Miramar Amphitheater, where this writer was honored with the privilege to be one of the judges for the second year in a row.
Student after student came out and gave it their all on stage, letting out what was in their hearts for the world to hear. For some, it was a simple poem, for others it was a way to vent feelings that have been bottled up for years. This was the case for one student from Charles W. Flanagan High School by the name of Isaac Bright, whose poem about a flower garden was filled with raw power, driven by his own personal life experiences. "Mainly ... kinda family problems, but also because I really love flowers. Funny story, I actually wrote this while being socially anxious in an Applebee's." said Bright. "But, it's just when I start thinking of plants, my mind just tries to go somewhere. I don't normally do regular poetry, it's more just storytelling with fancy words. "It took a lot of erasing, and a lot of trial and error, picking which went in and which couldn't. But really, one of my strategies is start from the end, and try to fill the points around it, that way the entire story flows together. How did we get to this point?" Clearly the strategy worked, as Bright - along with his fellow "Writers Ink" teammates - took first place in the preliminary bout, giving them a trip to the next round, much to the pride of their coach, Kristy Modia, who is an English teacher at Flanagan High School. "We worked hard to get here, we've been practicing ever since the beginning of the school year," she said. "So yeah, very proud." This is just the beginning for this year's Louder Than a Bomb Florida, and it's easy to understand why the Jason Taylor Foundation puts so much effort into making this happen year after year. This empowers the youth of South Florida, lets their voices be heard and their passions put on display on a stage larger than any other. If the youth of today is the future, then maybe it's good we hear what they're thinking in the present. This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung
“The Dolphins could benefit from having an in-line blocking tight end because Miami’s depth at that position is thin. This particular part of the column bugged me because Kelly consistently and constantly criticized Gesicki’s blocking last year. Gesicki is a 6’6” 245 pound tight end. His job is to set up mismatches in the passing game, not block. Admittedly he didn’t do as good of a job at that as most would have liked last year, but he’s still developing and it was apparent that he wasn’t ready to take on a bigger role. We shall see what happens this year when you could reasonably expect a second round tight end to bloom. Personally, I thought Dave Hyde, also at the Sun-Sentinel, provided a more sensible analysis: “The Dolphins’ signing of tight end Dwayne Allen says: (a) new offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea liked Allen in New England; (b) they’re not happy with blocking tight ends like fourth-round pick Durham Smythe or Nick O’Leary; c) they’re not going to ask Mike Gesicki to be an in-line blocker anymore. This I can get on board with. Allen is an upgrade to Smythe, who will now be a backup, because he can both block and catch. And, yes, the Dolphins are rebuilding, not tanking. If you are tanking you don’t sign anyone who can help. Rebuilding means targeting only players that you think will be a part of your long-term future. Which brings me to my only real criticism of the deal. At 29 years old, Allen is just a little older than I’d like. But rebuilds nowadays can happen quickly and it's unlikely that two years down the line at 31 years old the Dolphins will have any major regrets about the signing, particularly if Allen brings a locker room presence that can help younger players develop.
“Sam Young, who filled in admirably for an injured James as the starting right tackle for the final eight games of the 2017 season, is also a free agent. It is unclear at this moment if Miami intends on re-signing the former St. Thomas Aquinas High standout. None of those veteran options look particularly tantalizing and it's unlikely that the Dolphins are going to find a good solution in free agency. Given that the current make up of the Dolphins brain trust is very Patriot heavy, you wonder if they aren’t planning to follow the New England offensive line model. New England rarely pays their offensive linemen, preferring to develop unknown players and turn them into Pro Bowlers. Turning Trent Brown into one of the league's top left tackles only to let him go to the Raiders for a record contract this offseason is the latest example. I’m all in favor of the Dolphins pulling off similar feats but I doubt they can pull it off without New England coach Dante Scarnecchia, who is universally acknowledged as the best offensive line coach in the business. Is Dolphins line coach Pat Flaherty in Scarnecchia’s class? Not that I ever heard. Something tells me that if the Dolphins are planning to spin straw into gold on the offensive line the way New England does, they are in for a rude awakening.
“’I think that his height was inflated,’ an unnamed scout told Dan Patrick on Tuesday, and Dan relayed the story on the Wednesday edition of his show. ‘Maybe it’s the tin-foil hat theory. I just don’t see it. If he refuses to be measured at the Pro Day, that will be telling.”’ If it's a tin hat theory, then it's going around because I’m wearing a similar one. The possibility that this number wasn’t accurate was the first thing I thought of when I heard the result. Murray was measured at 5’9-5/8” at Oklahoma. Suddenly he is half an inch taller, meaning that his college substantially underestimated his height rather than inflating it as is the more standard procedure. I’m having a hard time with that.
“I think he just wants to flex his power He has small [man’s] syndrome. I still talk to guys who are there, and trust me, there’s not much respect for him in that locker room.” Bennett also let it be known that he will be staying in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem this season: “’I explained to them is that my integrity mean everything,’ Bennett said, according to ESPN. ’I think they respect that about me, they respect who I am as an individual.’” Yeah, Bennett is an individual alright. Just like his brother Martellus, Michael is an individual to a fault. There’s a reason why Bennett will be going on the fourth team of his career (the Seahawks twice) and the third in three years. He’s an immature, high maintenance player who can be a handful in the locker room. The Patriots are betting that they have the culture to tame Bennett but it says here that if he plays for them in 2019, he won’t be there in 2020. Talented as he is, New England could be his last stop.
I have never like the league’s procedures for replay and in my opinion this is a step in the wrong direction. The challenge system for review is hopelessly broken in part because NFL coaches are expected to do both their own job and that of the officials under the current rules.
I really don’t care what sort of system the league implements but it should be one that relieves coaches the responsibility for cleaning up the mess created by poor calls. Personally, I favor an extra official in the booth who is responsible for deciding whether a play should be reviewed. And, of course, any on-field official should also be allowed to request a review of a call they weren’t sure of. This story was written by Tom Shannon. Follow him on Twitter: @bearingthenews  With free agency approaching as well as trade rumors heating up, here are five possible players the Dolphins should consider trading for. This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj
 On Saturday afternoon, the Miami Dolphins boosted a young tight end group, signing former Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots TE Dwayne Allen to a two-year, $7 million dollar deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Allen, a Clemson graduate, opened his professional career with Indianapolis, totaling 1,451 yards and 19 touchdowns in five seasons of work. Once traded to New England, Allen’s production decreased tremendously, due in large part to the presence of Rob Gronkowski and being used primarily as a blocker. In two seasons, Allen concluded with just 113 yards and a touchdown. Allen should work well with head coach Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea; who both worked under Bill Belichick in New England. Miami’s tight end group, led by Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, A.J. Derby and Nick O’Leary, were mainly inconsistent in 2018, and now it's unlikely Derby or injured player MarQueis Gray will be brought back. Gesicki, whom Miami drafted in the second round of this past NFL draft, contributed 202 yards and zero touchdowns, used mostly - inexplicably - as a blocker, despite his aptitude being for catching passes; Derby appeared in four games before being placed on season-ending IR; Smythe finished with 50 yards in fifteen games, and O’Leary, claimed off waivers in September, produced 86 yards and a touchdown. Allen has a Super Bowl ring with New England and has caught footballs from arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, Tom Brady. Training camp opens in late July, and Allen is set to fight with three or four tight ends for a starting job in 2019. This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori  Per sources, and as expected, the Miami Dolphins are expected to announce the release of defensive end Andre Branch. Branch was scheduled to earn $6.9 million this upcoming season, which would have been the final year of his contract. However, by cutting the 29 year old veteran, he will only count $2 million towards the Dolphins cap this coming season. Since joining the Miami Dolphins in 2016, Branch's on field production continued to decline. In 2016, Branch racked up 26 total tackles with 23 assists and 5.5 sacks. However, in 2017 he ended the season with 12 total tackles, 11 assists, and 4.5 sacks. This past season, he totaled 17 tackles with 8 assists and 1.5 sacks. Although Branch started strong with the Dolphins in 2016, and was rewarded with a contract extension, he was unable to produce at a high level. This is the first of many expected moves by the Miami Dolphins. As the offseason progresses, players such as Ryan Tannehill, Cameron Wake, Danny Amendola, Daniel Kilgore, Ted Larsen, Robert Quinn, and Kiko Alonso, who are all over 28 years old, could be released in order to create cap space and also build a foundation of younger players. The purge has begun. Hang on! This article was written by Ian Berger. Follow him on Twitter: @ian693  With the NFL Draft a little over two months away we take a look at how the first round of the draft can turn out. This mock draft will be a pre combine one and many things can change from now until April 25th. As we get closer to the draft we will put out more mocks as picks and team needs change, as well as more rumors come out.  Cardinals, Pick 1: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State Nick Bosa is the consensus number one pick in this year’s draft. Bosa has little to no flaws other than he was sidelined most of this past year with an injury. When Bosa got injured, he said that he would focus on the NFL Draft and sit out the rest of the season. Bosa would instantly boost the Cardinals defense and cause a lot of havoc his rookie year.  49ers, Pick 2: Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky Josh Allen is not just a defensive end but that is what most teams think he is best at. Allen is one of the best pass rushers in this draft class, but he can also drop back in coverage. Allen has the quickness to cover some of the better tight ends in the NFL if he can get better at man coverage. Just like Bosa, Allen should boost the defense of 49ers with an already young front 7.  Jets, Pick 3: Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama Williams is one of the most consistent players in this draft. Defensive line is not a glaring need for the Jets, but with this pick they will be picking the best player available. Some draft experts even think that Williams is the best player in the draft. Williams was very dominant against a good LSU team and playing in the SEC proves he was consistent against good college competition. Williams can play in any defensive scheme and has good size at 6’4” and 290 pounds.  Raiders, Pick 4: Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan Last offseason the Raiders traded away Khalil Mack and Gary could be his successor. Gary does not have the talent Mack does but the Raiders will still have a solid defensive lineman. Gary is very consistent when he is on the field. That being said, Gary does have an injury history which could cause him to fall in the draft. I would not be surprised if the Raiders trade down from this spot to get more picks in this year’s and next year’s draft.  TRADE: Redskins, Pick 5: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Washington trades up to the fifth overall spot to take their quarterback of the future. With Alex Smith out at least all next year, the Redskins draft Kyler Murray to be their new RG3. Murray does have size concerns (which should be mitigated thanks to his combine measurements) but has a great arm and physical attributes. Murray will already have a solid backfield behind him in Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, and Derrius Guice so they can take some weight off his shoulders. Washington can run the same offense they ran with Josh Johnson late in the season since both players are mobile quarterbacks. If Washington can use Murray the right way and drafts a receiver later in the draft, they would have good odds to rival the Cowboys for the division next year.  Giants, Pick 6: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State The Giants draft their signal caller of the future in Dwayne Haskins, Haskins is the top quarterback on the draft board, and they get him here at pick 6. There have been reports that Kyler Murray is too short, but at 6’3”, Haskins does not share that concern. Haskins has to clean up some of his decision making skills but with Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley leading the offense, Haskins should have time to develop to his full potential.  Jaguars, Pick 7: Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson The Jaguars are expected to release Malik Jackson this offseason, so Lawrence would be a good fit in Jacksonville. Lawrence would already be around a good rotation of pass rushers and young linebackers. Lawrence is one of the best defensive linemen in this draft and with the top two quarterbacks gone they should address the defensive tackle position.  Lions, Pick 8: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Detroit will be looking for a new defensive end since Ezekiel Ansah will be a free agent this offseason. With 55 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, Ferrell put up good numbers last season. Ferrell is a speed rusher and relies on his quickness, speed, and elusiveness to get around offensive linemen and get to the quarterback. Ferrell could replace Ansah and potentially be a cornerstone of their defense.  Bills, Pick 9: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida Offensive line is one of the biggest needs for the Bills and here they get the best one in the draft. Taylor played on the right side at Florida so he would not be guarding Josh Allen’s blindside, but he would still give a huge boost to a below average offensive line. Taylor had consistency issues at Florida up until last season which boosted his stock a ton. At 6’5” and 340 pounds, Taylor has the right combination of size, strength and movement to be a franchise tackle in the NFL.  Broncos, Pick 10: Devin White, LB, LSU White is one of the best prospects in this draft but due to the amount of defensive linemen in this draft, he falls to the Broncos at the 10th pick. White is a complete linebacker and with the Broncos not picking up Brandon Marshall’s option, White would be an instant starter. White has the potential to be the next great linebacker since he has the instincts, intangibles, and the athletic ability. Denver already has a solid defense anchored by Von Miller and Bradley Chubb so adding White to the mix would only make them that much more intimidating.  Bengals, Pick 11: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma Before the Bengals look to boost their defense or make a change at quarterback, they need to solidify the offensive line. Oklahoma was one of the best offensive lines in college football last year and one reason was because of Cody Ford. Ford is a very athletic offensive tackle, which is very important in today’s NFL. Ford does have an injury history but does tough it out and did not miss one game in 2018 and only two in 2017. The only way that Ford does not suit up and play is because he absolutely cannot play. Ford also played right tackle but in today’s NFL right tackle is just as important as left tackle.  Packers, Pick 12: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State Sweat was one of the most dominant players at this year's Senior Bowl. The Packers are a below average team without Aaron Rodgers playing so the Packers would be smart to start rebuilding the team. Their defense already has some young talent and Sweat will just add to that. The only red flag Sweat has is that he was dismissed from Michigan State due to discipline issues then transferred to Mississippi State. Sweat has stayed out of trouble since and has been a very productive player. Sweat has the size to play both defensive end or outside linebacker depending what defensive scheme the Packers run under their new defensive coordinator.  Dolphins, Pick 13: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston Oliver at one point was considered the best player in the draft and the Dolphins snag him at 13. Oliver brings a lot to the table such as the ability to play in either scheme. Dolphins defensive coordinator said the Dolphins will run a hybrid defense and Oliver fits right into that. Oliver would line up anywhere on the defensive line depending on the situation or if there are any injuries that week. Oliver would be a dream come true if he falls to Miami due to his versatility and work ethic.  Falcons, Pick 14: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson The Falcons defense was not the best last year and like many other teams so far they will boost their defensive line with this pick. Wilkins will be a good fit in an already young Falcons defense. Wilkins has terrific size at 6’4” and 300 pounds and should have no trouble holding his ground in the trenches. With 51 tackles and six sacks, Wilkins is more well rounded than his Clemson teammates but he also has the lowest ceiling making him one of the last drafted.  TRADE: Buccaneers, Pick 15: Josh Jacobs, RB, AlabamaTampa trades down in the draft and drafts the player they wanted at 5 at 15. Jacobs is the best running back in this year’s draft and running back is a big need for Tampa. Ever since Doug Martin fell off, Tampa has not had a stable running back. Under new head coach Bruce Arians, the Buccaneers are going to need one running back that they can depend on. When Arians coached the Cardinals, he had David Johnson to work with and that helped balance out the offense. Jacobs has good size at 5'11" and 200 pounds and does have some experience catching the ball out of the backfield. His combine will really show if he is truly worth a first round pick.  Panthers, Pick 16: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss Offensive line is a huge need for the Panthers, especially with Cam Newton’s shoulder injury. Little would play left tackle so the Panthers should feel good about that. Little has not missed one game since he started playing college football in 2016, making him very dependable and not injury prone. At 6’6" and 325 pounds, Little should give Newton a little more time in the pocket, especially since the NFC South’s defensive lines are not the best.  Browns, Pick 17: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama The Browns have been looking for Joe Thomas’s replacement since he retired and they found him in Williams. Williams plays either right or left tackle so he will probably be protecting Baker Mayfield’s blindside. Williams has good feet and quickness but lacks lower body strength which could impact his run blocking. Once Williams puts on more lower body strength the Browns can depend on him to be their new Joe Thomas.  Vikings, Pick 18: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State The Vikings have weapons all around Kirk Cousins, now it is time to give him some protection. Dillard really improved his stock this year at the Senior Bowl, being one of the best offensive linemen there. There have been reports that Dillard is one of the most athletic tackles in all of College Football. Dillard has excellent feet, quickness, and technique which are all positive for an NFL prospect. Dillard does play on the left side so he will have to protects Cousins' blindside against some mediocre defensive lines in the NFC North, although the Bears have one of the defensive lines in the league.  Titans, Pick 19: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Receiver is a huge need for the Titans since Corey Davis is not producing like we all envisioned. D.K. Metcalf has elite height at 6’4” and could be Marcus Mariota’s new favorite target. Metcalf put up good numbers this season with 26 catches, 569 yards, and five touchdowns in seven games before a neck injury kept him out for the rest of the season. He also has big play ability with his longest catch last season being 75 yards, and the Titans need big play ability.  Steelers, Pick 20: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU Due to the amount of dominant defensive linemen and offensive tackles, the Steelers grab the draft's best corner at pick 20. Williams has elite height at 6’3” which makes him very good at both man and press coverages. The Steelers will love how they can use Williams since he is long and physical. With 33 tackles, two interceptions, and nine pass deflections, Williams was a shutdown corner in college and many teams expect that to transfer over to the NFL.  Seahawks, Pick 21: Nasir Adderley, S, DelawareSeattle finds their Kam Chancellor replacement in Adderley. Adderley has the best ball skills in this draft and also is not afraid of contact. Chancellor was great at finding the ball and attacking it and Adderley is the same way. Adderley does have some trouble reading plays, but he should get better with time. At 6’0” and 190 pounds he has decent size but has room to get bigger.  Ravens, Pick 22: Jachai Polite, DE, Florida Polite will be a good player for an already solid Ravens defense. Polite has a very explosive first step which is important in the NFL. Polite is more of a speed rusher than a power rusher but can make offensive linemen unbalanced if he needs to. Consistency and effort are two things people see as red flags but playing for the Ravens he should get plenty of rest and always give full effort playing for a playoff team.  Texans, Pick 23: Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State Howard is a small school prospect but has nice film against bigger schools such as Auburn. He has played both left and right tackle so the Texans can put him wherever they feel he would help the most. Protecting franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson is very important for the Texans and they would be making an excellent pick here. Howard might be a developmental player, but he should turn out to be a great player for the Texans.  Raiders (via Bears), Pick 24: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama Thompson will not participate in the combine because of a wrist injury that requires surgery, but there will be no long-term issues. The Raiders are boosting their defense with this pick and rumors of Karl Joseph getting traded and Reggie Nelson being a free agent, this pick makes a lot of sense. Thompson has great speed and hip movement and is a fantastic tackler, but the trend with Alabama safeties in the NFL is that teams see they lack coverage skills and eventually move them to linebacker.  Eagles, Pick 25: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia Corner is one of the biggest needs for the Eagles and they address it here with Baker. Baker is considered by some people to be the best corner in the draft but does have some off-field concerns. He is not as tall as Greedy Williams at 5’11” but Baker is a more well-rounded corner. Baker can play slot, man, press, or zone and only allowed a 40.9 passer rating this past season. Baker should have a tough rookie season going against Odell Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper twice a piece.  Colts, Pick 26: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State Harry would be a perfect compliment to T.Y. Hilton. Harry is a big and physical receiver that would pair nicely with Hilton’s small and fast build. Harry has terrific hands and at his height he could be making Calvin Johnson type plays. Harry is not as good at changing his direction but that should not be that big of a concern since he will be playing alongside of Hilton.  Raiders (via Cowboys), Pick 27: T.J. Hockenson, TE, IowaWith Jared Cook being a free agent, the Raiders give Derek Carr a new weapon. Hockenson is one of the best tight end prospects to come out of the draft since O.J. Howard. At 6’5” and 243 pounds he is a big guy who should become an instant redzone threat. He is a very balanced player with great hands and run blocking. If Hockenson can adjust to the NFL quickly he become a household name just as quick.  Chargers, Pick 28: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke Quarterback is not a glaring need for the Chargers, but it is a position that the they will need in the upcoming years. Jones is a not a day one starter, but he can develop under Philip Rivers. Jones has good accuracy and good throw power. If Jones can develop and learn the offense under Rivers, quarterback will not be a need for a very long time.  Chiefs, Pick 29: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington Murphy is viewed by some as the best corner in the draft. Corner is a huge need for the Chiefs as the defense is one of the league's worst. Murphy could be Marcus Peters' replacement after he was traded last offseason. He is a great zone coverage corner and knows his strengths since he is 6’0” and 175 pounds. At that height he could play man but against the bigger receivers that would not be ideal. Murphy is also not the best in run support which could be an issue if the Chiefs do not fix their defense.  Packers (via Saints), Pick 30: Devin Bush Jr., LB, Michigan Bush is a great player who would instantly become a leader on this young Packers defense. Bush excels in both pass coverage and run stopping which is very important playing in the NFC North. He would have to cover tight ends such as Kyle Rudolph and Trey Burton but also hunt down running backs like Jordan Howard and Dalvin Cook. Bush has great speed and instincts and will excel early in his NFL career.  Rams, Pick 31: Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama Wilson is not getting as much hype as other Alabama linebackers but he's still just as good as the other ones. At 6’2” and 240 pounds, Wilson has the size to be a great linebacker in this league. He has good speed with his size and is just as good in pass coverage as he is in run support. It will be interesting to see how Wilson fits in with the Rams defense since they will be reshaping it due to salary cap. The Rams might even make him a cornerstone in their new look defense with Aaron Donald.  Patriots, Pick 32: Brian Burns, DE, Florida State The Patriots will more than likely trade this pick as they trade out of the first round almost every year, but if they do not, they draft a very talented edge rusher. With recent reports saying that the Patriots will not be re-signing Trey Flowers, Burns would instantly fill in as the starter. Burns is an exact copy of Flowers but with Burns' speed he could be just as - if not more - effective. Compared to Flowers, Burns is tall but weighs about 30 pounds less so it will be interesting to see how effective he is in the run game.
This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj  So, recently the NFL awarded compensatory picks to certain franchises. You could almost look at this metric and understand why our Miami Dolphins are in the situation they are. The first compensatory pick is pick 96. New England received picks 97 and 101 of round 3. The Los Angeles Rams received picks 98 and 99 respectively.
The Miami Dolphins receive pick zero of round zero! Washington (96), Carolina (100) and Baltimore (102) received the other third round compensatory picks. Atlanta was the first non-playoff team from this past to receive a pick which would be the 10th such pick assigned. In fact, only 17 of the 32 compensatory picks given out were to non-playoff teams this year. Let’s start with how you gain a compensatory pick. According to my research, under the rules for compensatory draft selections a team losing more or better compensatory free agents (CFA) than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory picks via NFL Communications letter. What the heck does all this mean? It means if you lose players of value you have the opportunity to draft possible replacements. It doesn’t matter who you draft just that you have more opportunities to hit on guys. How is it that the Super Bowl teams are allocated four of the top six compensatory draft picks? It really goes back to that “letting a guy move on a year early instead of a year late” concept! Teams are rewarded for drafting well and grooming the next man up. Where are the Miami Dolphins in this process? I’m waiting… Nonexistent is the word of the day. That’s the difference between drafting well and losing a few guys who have replacements in the pipeline and a team like the Miami Dolphins who give record contracts to guys on their own agenda who barely move the needle. The league has a recipe for success and the compensatory pick process is part of it. Dig deeper and you will find that the Miami Dolphins didn’t receive any compensatory draft picks last year either. Bottom line, if you draft well you have a pipeline of players to replace the departures. The league then rewards you with replacements. The draft position almost doesn’t matter in today’s league. How many guys named Antonio Brown, Shannon Sharpe, Terrelle Davis, Jared Allen, Richard Sherman, Zach Thomas, or Tom Brady need to be drafted for this franchise to understand the importance of stockpiling picks. This story was written by Steven Paulsen. Follow him on Twitter: @SarcasticPhin |
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