Miami Dolphins 7-Round Mock Draft 1.0
Thanks to some pretty generous spending during the opening of the NFL free agency period, the Miami Dolphins began to address some of their positional needs heading into the 2017 season.
The re-signing of defensive lineman Andre Branch, safety Reshad Jones and linebacker Koa Misi as well as bringing in former Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons does change the complexion of the Fins draft board a bit – but the team should still be looking to upgrade certain spots on both sides of the ball.
This mock will be updated as more schools complete their Pro Day's and after Miami has any pre-draft workouts with players.
Round One – 22nd Overall
Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama (6-foot-6, 312 pounds)
Could arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft "fall" to the Dolphins for a second straight year?
It is quite conceivable.
Prior to the start of the 2016-17 college season, Cam Robinson was considered a top five overall guy, but the draft boards began to change as more and more skill guys, linebackers and defensive backs began to rise.
Robinson was a Freshman All-American and two-time first-team All-SEC selection at Bama. He started every game of his career at left tackle and showed exceptional athleticism for a human being his size.
Robinson plays the game with power – he can uproot defenders and move them out of running lanes. And his tape shows that he's able to respond to power with power.
Though the Fins took Laremy Tunsil in the 2016 draft and plan on kicking him out to tackle this coming season after spending the past year inside at guard, taking Robinson would give Miami the tools to have one of the most dominant offensive lines in the AFC.
The knock on Robinson – and the thing that could push him right in the Dolphins' lap – is that he was arrested with a teammate with marijuana and a stolen handgun in their vehicle.
Again, see Laremy Tunsil.
The Dolphins could do the same thing with Robinson in year one, work him inside at guard – a position of need now – on either the left or the right side and re-evaluate the situation in 2018, when former 2014 first round pick and starting right tackle Ju'Waun James' contract is up.
And for the fans who think the pick isn't sexy enough, I point out to you the drafting strategy of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010 through 2012. In that three-year span, the Steelers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round twice and one in the second round twice. Of those four picks, three of them are currently starting on their O-Line.
Round Two – 54th Overall
Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida (6-foot-1, 238 pounds)
This pick is a little "wish listy", but it is not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Some mock drafts have Davis possibly sneaking into the first round or being taken high in the second, but there could be a run on quarterbacks in the early part of the second round – opening the door for Jarrad Davis to land in Miami.
The Dolphins re-signed Kiko Alonso and picked up Lawrence Timmons, but that still leaves one more linebacker spot open in a group that was pretty bad this past season.
Davis, who Orlando "Big O" Alzugaray liked after seeing him perform at the NFL Combine, was quite the productive player in college. A player whom teammates and coaches praised for his leadership and character and a player that has the tools to come in and compete for a starting role right away.
Davis is a smart linebacker that will explode into ball carriers and has the athleticism to work his way all over the field. While he's not an outstanding in coverage, he is good enough to stay with most tight ends and he can be coached to improve in the area - because he has the physical tools.
He can be used a "spy" on mobile quarterbacks and he's a sneaky good blitzer – showing good acceleration and closing speed as well as being a "finishing" type tackler.
Getting Davis would give Miami a completely new linebacker corps, one with a mix of youth and experience as well as talent and versatility.
Round Three – 97th Overall (Compensatory)
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan (5-foot-10, 188 pounds)
Some fans would probably would've liked to see Miami address its secondary prior to the third round, but getting a player like Jourdan Lewis at this point is a plus.
Lewis was a first-team All-American according to multiple outlets. He also was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist and was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year.
If he were two inches taller, he'd likely be a top 10 pick.
Reality is, he is 5-foot-10. However, he plays much bigger than that.
Lewis is very competitive and plays with that requisite "cornerback swag" that the great ones usually have. He's not a burner (ran a 4.54 at the Combine), but he plays the game fast - being able to keep up receivers or makeup ground after an early mistake.
He's a play-maker, evident by his six interceptions. And, Lewis is versatile, having worked on special teams as both a gunner and a returner while at Michigan.
In the pass-happy NFL, it is good to have multiple defensive backs that can be solid in coverage and make plays on the ball when the opportunity presents itself.
Because of his height, Lewis may never be a true "No. 1, outside corner" that matches up with some of the league's bigger receivers on a consistent basis. But what he can do is be a top-flight slot defender that matches up with the shifty receivers inside.
And the good thing about Lewis is that he wouldn't be a complete liability against the run, even if he's out there with the nickel and dime packages.
Round Five – 166th Overall
This is the point in the draft where you find players that could start as situational contributors and possibly mature into strong rotational players or even starters.
Tanzel Smart is a high-motor defensive tackle that has shown he can rush the passer from the inside while also holding up well enough against the run.
Scouts have questioned how effective Smart can be at the pro level given his playing at Tulane didn't allow him to go up against the cream of the college crop on a weekly basis.
Still, he was able to rack up 176 tackles (40 for loss) and nine sacks in three years and was twice named an All-American Conference first-team pick.
If he had better measurables, he would probably be drafted higher. But he's guy that can come in and offer help as a situational pass rusher.
Round Five – 178th Overall (Compensatory)
There shouldn't be a Dolphins mock draft that doesn't have at least one Miami Hurricane in it.
Isidora, who is also Cypress Bay High School alum, was a three-year starter at right guard for UM and was – frankly – one of the few bright spots on the Canes' offensive line in that span.
He's steady and consistent and he's athletic. He ran 5.03 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Isidora has NFL size (6-foot-3, 303 pounds) while also being light-footed enough to pull and work into the second level.
He can stand to get stronger. Though he did 26 bench press reps of 225 pounds, he struggled with beefy bull-rushers at the Senior Bowl, but that's correctable if he works hard.
This pick may not pay year-one dividends, but he should relish the opportunity to play for his hometown team and could provide capable depth if he doesn't blossom into a starter.
Round Five – 184th Overall (Compensatory)
Travis Rudolph, WR, Florida State (6-feet, 189 pounds)
This is the day-three pick that I think oozes with the most potential.
Despite leading Florida State in receiving the past two seasons, I err on the side of thinking that there is still some untapped potential within Travis Rudolph.
He is a good route runner and an "easy strider". He has a knack for disguising his routes when working up the field, being able to fool some defensive backs. Rudolph would not be your first choice if you were building a relay team, but he can run intermediate and deep routes very well and will make tough catches.
Basically, he's a possession receiver that could work well next to Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry and add competition to the wide receiver room overall.
Bonus, he's a willing run blocker – which will help him get and stay on the field early in his career.
Round Seven – 223rd Overall
Ben Boulware, LB, Clemson (6-feet, 238 pounds)
Again, late round picks – especially seventh-rounders – are guys that will likely start their careers on special teams and have to work their way up from there.
Ben Boulware has that written all over him.
Clemson's team captain this past season, Boulware made first-team All-ACC in his final two college seasons. In that time he registered 198 total tackles, 19.5 stops for a loss, two interceptions and four sacks.
He is a natural leader that is no stranger to making his bones on special teams. He did it for the first two years at Clemson before carving out a role in the starting defense.
Boulware is tough, competitive and makes up for what he lacks in physical tools with football smarts and work ethic.
Larry Izzo was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro selection as primarily a special team's player. Just saying.