Fins Have Plenty Of 2012 Draft Picks
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The annual NFL Draft is less than a month away and Tuesday, the league released the full draft order of the 253 picks.
Interestingly enough, the Indianapolis Colts pulled off quite a feat for the draft. The Colts hold the number one overall pick in the draft and the very last pick in the draft, also known as Mr. Irrelevant.
The Miami Dolphins will have several picks in the draft, but received no compensatory picks from the league due to losses in free agency. Here's where the Dolphins will pick by round:
- Round 1: Eighth Pick
- Round 2: Tenth Pick (42nd overall)
- Round 3: Ninth Pick (72nd overall) and Tenth Pick (73rd overall)
- Round 4: Eighth Pick (103rd overall)
- Round 5: Tenth Pick (145th overall)
- Round 6: Twenty-Seventh Pick (196th overall)
- Round 7: Eigth Pick (215th overall)
Which way the Dolphins are looking to go in the draft is still unknown and likely won't be known until the team's first pick is made.
The rumor-mill has been churning out names for the eighth overall pick including: Texas A&M Quarterback Ryan Tannehill; Iowa Offensive Tackle Riley Reiff; and North Carolina Defensive End Quinton Coples.
If the Dolphins spend another first-round pick on an offensive lineman, there could be a riot at Sun Life Stadium. Still, plugging the gaping hole on the right side of the line is something that is desperately needed.
Tannehill could be the choice because he has a history of working with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Previously, Tannehill played for Sherman while both were at Texas A&M University.
Coples would be a stretch at the eighth spot due to a questionable desire to excel and a questionable work ethic. If properly motivated, he could form a nice tandem of ends with Cameron Wake. But, when the Fins signed nose tackle Paul Soliai, it could be a sign they will stick with a 3-4 base defense.
The Fins could also take a look at some of the other impressive defensive end/outside linebacker prospects including Melvin Ingram of South Carolina or the impressive Courtney Upshaw out of Alabama.
The Fins will likely look towards the tight end and wide receiver position starting in round two or if they miss on Tannehill, could consider quarterback Brandon Weeden out of Oklahoma State. Weeden is much older than most prospects, but it's tough to argue with is production as a Cowboy.
If somehow, Stanford tight end Coby Fleener slips to the Fins pick in the second round, the team will likely jump on him to give Matt Moore a quality pass catching tight-end. Past Fleener, the tight ends include: Orson Charles of Georgia, Dwayne Allen of Clemson, and Michael Egnew of Missouri.
