Miami Dolphins Draft Grades And 53 Man Depth Chart Projection

During the month of May we’ll take a look at each team’s entire off-season, Grade their draft and look at what could potentially be their 53 man roster. Every team that picks high in the draft still has some question marks on their team. Needs that have to be filled by someone stepping up and making big plays throughout the season. Today We’ll grade the Dolphins draft and take a sneak peak at what the 2012 NFL season might bring.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami (FL)
Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (FL)
Josh Kaddu, LB, Oregon
B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
Kheeston Randall, DL, Texas
Rishard Lewis, WR, Nevada

Undrafted FAs
Pittsburgh DT Chas Alecxih; Oregon State LB Cameron Collins; Temple OL Derek Dennis; Purdue S Albert Evans; Notre Dame RB Jonas Gray; Arizona State DE Shelly Lyons; Arkansas State S Kelcie McCray; Penn State WR Derek Moye; Boise State DL Jarrell Root; Missouri DE Jacquies Smith; UMass OG Josh Samuda; Portland State OT Dustin Waldron, Jeff Fuller Texas A and M

Best Undrafed FreeAgens

The Miami Dolphins had three undrafted free agents that stuck out to me immediately. Derek Dennis the offensive linemen out of Temple is a good player. I watched a few Temple games just to see Dennis play. I think he has a good shot at making the roster or at least sticking to the practice squad. Kelcie McCray is a Wes Bunting guy and was generally considered a draftable safety prospect. And Jacquies Smith I had as about a 5th or 6th round player. I’m not sure if the Dolphins plan on playing him as a 34 DE or a 34 OLB. Either way he’s go a shot to make the team.

Of course the move of Jeff Fuller is smart too. Fuller battled injuries and a case of the dropsies, but has the talent of a day two wide receiver and already has chemistry with Tannehill.

Grading the draft:

1st round-Ryan Tannehill

The word reach is thrown around far too often. To me a reach is a player that a team could draft with a later pick in a different round. Ryan Tannehill might not have made it past the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs. Whether or no Tannehill is worth top 10 pick is debatable, but the pick is not a reach. Tannehill’s abilities are terrific. The fact that he had less than 20 career stats is very scary, but he can be a franchise quarterback. Also the belief that Tannehill was a second round pick all season and then ended up in the first round is a complete fallacy–Tannehill was considered a first round pick in some mock drafts BEFORE the 2011 college football season, not just after. This is a pick that had to be made for a Fanbase looking for hope and if anyone has seen Ryan Tannehill’s wife we already know he’s not a loser.B+

2nd round pick Jonathan Martin-

Jonathan Martin’s stock fell for two reasons. One he was abused by Nick Perry when Stanford played USC. Secondly, teams are not sure if Martin loves the physical nature of football–and that’s a big concern. Now, can he play LT or RT? Definitely has the ability to do so. If he loves fooball he’ll excel if he doesn’t, he’ll get a nice rookie contract and then fizzle out of the league. I had Marin pretty high and I like the pick. B+

Oliver Vernon-

This was a risky pick, maybe even more risky than Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has he tools to succeed in the N.F.L. and no team had as much background information on Tannehill as the Dolphins had because of their new offensive coordinator–so the pick makes a lot of sense to me. Vernon on the other hand missed much of the 2011 season and then had a really poor season when he did return. I’m always weary of players who are coming off poor years when they head into the N.F.L. and would stay away from the with high picks. Vernon also does not possess elite athleticism, length, or great experience as a 34 OLB. He’s a big projection there and I have major questions, if the Dolphins do more 43 looks (I believe that has been reported) he’s undersized for that position . Now during the 2010 college fooball season he had some impressive tape, but I would not have drafted him in round three. C-

Michael Egnew-round three

This might have been a tough high for Egnew, but not really. In a suspect TE class the Dolphins took the last tight end of of tier one of tight ends. Egnew had a disappointing season as well, but much of that can be blamed on he suspect quarterback play as well. Egnew has hot and cold hands, but has good size and could be a nice receiving option. He also fills a big need for the Dolphins. Good, solid pick. B

Lamar Miller 4th round

Miller must have had a bad combine check because he is extremely gifted. I really like this pick for the Dolphins. Daniel Thomas, Reggie Bush, and Lamar Miller is one of the scariest 1-2-3 running back combos in the league. Great value A

Josh Kaddu in the 5th round

Kaddu is an athletic linebacker I liked most as a 43 SAM linebacker so he should help the Dolphins. He was not extremely productive, but projects well to the N.F.L. If he Dolphins can keep offensive linemen off Kaddu he could make a lo of plays.

B.J. Cunningham 6th round

Cunningham is not an explosive WR, but he’s very savvy route runner and tough as nails. He’s a player who won’t be afraid to catch the ball over the middle. He also often shined when the moment was the brightest. I would have been comfortable enough taking him in he fourth round, even though I know his upside is limited. Maybe at some point he’ll be a number two type, he can definitely be a good #4 or #3 WR. Dolphins really needed a nice WR as well. B+

Kheeston Randall 7th round

My philosophy in the late rounds is solidify special teams or swing for the fences. Randall has more physical ability than a 7th round pick. Randall has NFL Size and NFL Strength and can play a number of different positions along the defensive line. Good pick late by the Dolphins B+

Rishard Matthews, Nevada 7th round

A draftnik favorite, Matthews is a good solid pick. The Dolphins have to find someone to augment their pass offense and between Matthews, Cunningham, and Fuller they should find someone to make a roster and help out. B

Offseason moves

~~Dolphins cut DE/DT Phillip Merling~~
Dolphins sign WR Legedu Naanee
Dolphins sign OLB Gary Guyton
~~Vikings sign ILB Marvin Mitchell~~
Dolphins sign SS Tyrell Johnson
~~Patriots sign CB Will Allen~~
Dolphins sign QB David Garrard
~~Dolphins cut SS Yeremiah Bell~~
~~Vikings sign FB Lex Hilliard~~
Rams sign DT Kendall Langford
Dolphins sign OT Artis Hicks
Dolphins sign DE/OLB Jamaal Westerman
Dolphins re-sign RB Steve Slaton
Dolphins sign CB Richard Marshall
~~Jaguars sign QB Chad Henne~~
Dolphins re-sign NT Paul Soliai
~~Bears acquire WR Brandon Marshall for two third-round picks~~
Dolphins re-sign OT Lydon Murtha

53 Man Roster Projection

QB (3): Matt Moore, David Garrard, Ryan Tannehill

RB (5): Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas, Lamar Miller, Steve Slaton, Charles Clay (Jonas Gray, Marcus Thigpen, Jerome Massam)

WR (7): Brian Hartline, Devaone Bess, Leged Naanee, Clyde Gaes, B.J. Cunningham, Rishard Matthews, Jeff Fuller (Juluius Puritt, Roberto Waco, Derek Moye, Marlon Moore, Chris Hogan)

OL 8: Jake Long, Richie Icongnito, Mike Pouncey, John Jerry, Jonathan Martin, Lyndon Murtha, Ryan Cook, Will Barker, (Ray Feniga, Derek Dennis, Terrance Brown, Artis Hicks, Dustin Waldron)

TE (3): Michael Egnew, Anthon Fasano, Jeron Mastrud (Will Yeamen, Les Brown)

Defensive line (6): Jared Odrick, Paul Solali, Randy Starks, Kheeston Randall, Tony McDaniel, Ryan Baker (Jacquies Smith, Derrick Shelby, Chas Alexich, Issako Aaitui, Jerrell Root)

OLB 5: Cameron Wake, Oliver Vernon, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik, Josh Kaddu (Jamaal Westerman, Jonathan Freeney, Trenton Hughes),

ILB 4: Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, Gary Guyton, Austin Spitler (Shelley Lyons, Cameron Collins)

CB (6):Richard Marshall, Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Nolan Carroll, Jonathan Wade, Jonathan Freeny, (Marcus Brown, Trent Hughes, Vince Agnew, Quinten Lawrence)

S (4): Chris Clemson, ReShad Jones, Tyrell Johnson, Jimmy Wilson (Tyrone Culver Kelcie McCray, Kevyn Scott)

K (1): Dan Carpenter

P (1): Brandon Fields

Long Snapper (1): John Denney

Positions of Strength:

Running back: Daniel Thomas wasn’t one of my favorite prospects last year, but he showed himself useful last year in a three yards and a cloud of dust kind of way, which will be the perfect complement to the explosive big play nature of Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller. This is a terrific and young running back corps that could wreck havoc in he A.F.C. East next year.

Offensive line starters (but not depth)

I think the offensive line starters might be among the best in the league, but I’m worried about the depth. Again this should be a really powerful running game next year.

Positions of Need

#1 WR

I’m not at all convinced that the Dolphins have a number one wide receiver on their roster, especially for the 2012 NFL Season. Perhaps in time one of the young players can develop into that type of player, but right now the team is lacking a major weapon on the outside. They have solid depth, but not overwhelming talent.

Safety:

I like their cornerback talent, but I’m worried about the talent they have at safety. Tyrell Johnson has a lo of physical ability, but didn’t showcase it enough when he was with the Vikings. He’ll have to be better.

Final Thoughts:

The Dolphins enter the season as the fourth best team in the AFC East. The one thing the Dolphins clearly lack is star power. Reggie Bush has a big name, Cameron Wake as well, but other than that it’s a lot of really solid, but not franchise type players throughout the roster (there are some Jake Long for one, Ryan Tannehill now). The Dolphins play better as a group last year, especially towards the end of the season than the names on the back of their jerseys, but this year is still a transition year. I think they should be competitive in most games, especially as long as the solid, but unspectacular Matt Moore starts, but I don’t expect them to win a lot of games and they will probably finish under .500–especially if Ryan Tannehill ends up starting before the end of the season.

Thoughts?

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