2011 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins

Up next in our series of team mock drafts (all previously completed teams can be found here) is the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins a few years ago went 1-15 and were expected to have a very long rebuilding process before exceed expectations only to take a step back this past season (although it was probably in line with where a team typically would be after going 1-15 just a couple of seasons prior. A big reason why they struggled more this year than last year is that they only averaged 3.7 yards per carry.

The Dolphins owner group tried to push out Tony Saprano only to end up giving him an extension in one of the weirdest off-season sports stories.

Let’s take a look at the Dolphins needs really quick before we do a mock draft.

Quarterback

The Dolphins, have perhaps the toughest QB question to answer in the league this off-season because it is a toss up. Every other team eitherknows for sure whether or not they have their franchise Quarterback or is in a good position to find one early in the draft through trade (Kolb) or free agency (assuming the release of Donvoan Mcnabb), but the Dolphins are kind of in-between. I think though that they wished they believed more in Chad Henne then they do and that they will look elsewhere for their franchise signal caller.

Running back

This is well documented in draft circles becauuse Mark Ingram is mocked to them in essentially every mock draft created this off-season (except mine), but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could both be gone because of free agency. The Dolphins need to run the ball to be successful.

Safety

The Dolphins have very nice young cornerbacks, but they don’t have anything great at safety and could look to upgrade that position this off-season.

Inside Linebacker

I could be wrong about this but I don’t think the Dolphins are in love with Channing Crowder’s antics and terrible production 39 tackles in 11 starts (that doesn’t seem possible are NFL.com stat’s wrong?) The Dolphins could really use someone to play alongside Karlos Dansby that could make an actual impact on the field. Despite playing in 27 games, and having a combined 17 starts, Tim Dobbins and Channing Crowder had 74 less tackles than Stephen Tulloch had at linebacker this season as just one man aind in just 16 games.

Offensive Line

The Dolphins have talented running backs, but only averaged 3.7 yards per carry this season, which doesn’t happen if you have talented running backs and a good offensive line. Therefore, Dolphins OL must need upgrades. We all know JakeLong is a stud but players like Richie Incognito have been on a different team every year

Tight End

Anthony Fasaon might be a fan favorite (I don’t know honestly is he?) but he’s not that good. Fasano doesn’t strike fear in the defense and could be upgraded.

Wide Receiver

Marshall is good and Bess is good, but the Dolhpins lack a true #2 WR because Patrick Turner (released) or Brain Hartline is not to be that guy, two players they drafted recently.

The Dolphins have 7 picks, but no second round pick in this draft. Although, Ideally I think the Dolphins should look to trade down, I’m not going to predicdt trades in this mock.

1st Round pick #15 Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Even though the Miami Hearld reported that the Dolphins were likely to take a running back or quarterback with the 15th overall pick I don’t see it happen. Odds are that the two QB’s available at 15 will be Ryan Mallett (just a slightly different more talented version of Chad Henne) or Jake Locker (If Washington unless the Redskins, who don’t have a ton of picks grab him at 10) and I don’t know if the Dolphins will pick either of those. As for the running backs, I don’t know if Mark Ingram will be available (he might be drafted before that #1) and number two, I can’t justify or see the Dolpins spending a 1st round pick on a Running back with no 2nd round picks. Running backs are players you draft to augument a talented roster, or complete the puzzle, the Dolphins can’t afford a RB with a first round pick when they don’t have a QB or a 2nd round pick available.

3rd round pick 79 Kelvin Sheppard, ILB, LSU

I wrote at the top on the needs the Dolphins had two ILB who started a total of 17 games and played in nearly 30 games and didn’t even register 90 tackles. That is embarassing. Karlos Dansby is a very nice player, but he needs a running mate. In a 3-4 defense it is imperative that teams have good linebacker play or the defense won’t be very good. The Dolphins have two good linebackers right now with Wake and Dansby and a potential third with Misi, who might develop into a very nice player, but they still need one more. They need Pittsburgh’s Farrior to Timmons, which they don’t have anything close to right now.

4th round 110th overall Delone Carter, Syracuse, RB

Even though, I don’t think the Dolphins will draft a Running back in the first round I do believe they will address that position at some point in the draft. Carte is a very nice pick in the fourth round because he’s a better football player than he is an athlete. He’s bigger (5-9 225 pounds) and stronger than he is fast. He also rarely fumbles and has good vision. he should be produtive for the Dolphins provided they can shore up their offensive line issues.

5th round 143 overall Will Hill, S, Florida

I haven’t given the Dolphins great value in this draft, but in this round they get good value with Will Hill. There are always players who fall further than expected and get picked in the 4th and 5th rounds. The Dolphins need safety depth and starters, but they address other needs before this pick so they have to take a player who could develop into a starter, but maybe not a player who will start at Safety immediately.

6th Round 174 Stephen Skelton, TE, Fordham

Skelton is a nice pass catching tight end who isn’t much of a blocker. He isn’t a dynamic downfield threat, but he has better than avearge speed for a tight end and has nice soft hands. The Dolphins need more pass catching options and Skelton can be that for this team from the TE position.

Round 7 pick 206 QB Tyrod Taylor, QB, VA Tech

The Dolphins are in a tight spot with no secound round pick this year. They can’t afford to trade up to get one of the top two quarterbacks, and in the third round they can’t get anything other than a developmental QB project at the expense of fulfilling other needs and getting good value. With two consecutive picks in the 7th round the Dolphins take the former talented Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor here in the 7th round as a developmental QB prospect (or possibly a WR)

Round 7 pick 207 Justin Boren, Guard, Ohio State

Boren is a nice player to get in the 7th round as a guy with good size (320 pounds) and enough ability to be a solid pass blocker and run blocker. Isn’t the greatest athlete though, but you can’t expect to get solid players who are great athletes in the 7th round.

I didn’t get a QB for the Dolphins in this draft because I think the Qb position in this draft, for the Dolphins, is first round or bust. Both Tony Soprano and Jeff Ireland might be looking to save their jobs and if that is the case they are not going to take a chance on prolonging their Dolphins careers with a mid-round Quarterback. 1st Round QB buy coaches and General Managers more time, 3rd round quarterbacks don’t. The Dolphins best chance to win this year might be with a veteran Quarterback (Mcnabb) or Henne

Leave your thoughts about this Miami Dolphins mock draft.

have a nice day, everyone.

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