Miami Dolphins 2012 Mock Draft: Full 7-Round Predictions

Few teams have more at stake this offseason than the Miami Dolphins.

The team has been marred by dysfunction for the last two years, and the luster that once made the 'Fins a model franchise has faded. Miami just capped off its third consecutive losing season (first time in team history), and watched helplessly as Jeff Fisher opted to coach the St. Louis Rams. 

But, with a new head coach in place, the Dolphins have a chance to turn things around and re-establish this franchise as one of the NFL's most preeminent. 

It all starts in the 2012 NFL draft, where the 'Fins can lay the foundation for a championship-caliber squad.  

1st Round: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Virtually every mock draft on the web has the Dolphins drafting an offensive tackle here, but I'm not buying it.  

Throughout the course of the 2011 NFL playoffs, we've witnessed what a dominant pass-rush can do for a team. The Texans' pass-rush helped compensate for the loss of Matt Schaub and propel the team to the first playoff win in franchise history; the 49ers' front seven thwarted the Saints offensive attack and brought them within a muffed punt of a Super Bowl berth; and the Giants' pass-rush has anchored the team to its second NFC Championship in four years. 

Cam Wake is the only pass-rush specialist on Miami's roster, and he will be 30 years old next season. Consequently, the Dolphins should use their first-round selection on South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. He is a physical specimen (6'2", 276) who racked up a combined 19 sacks for the Gamecocks over the last two seasons. 

Again, great front sevens helped the Texans and 49ers compensate for the lack of a franchise quarterback, so, naturally, the Dolphins should try to replicate that model. 

2nd Round: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

Both Vernon Carey and Marc Colombo are slated for free agency, and the Dolphins might not want either of them back. Colombo was an unmitigated disaster, and Carey's age might deter the team from offering him an extension. 

Replacing Carey and Colombo will be one of Miami's top priorities, and Jeff Ireland will target an offensive line prospect who can start right away in the early rounds of the 2012 draft.

An ideal selection for the 'Fins is Florida State offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders. His 6'6", 307-pound frame makes him a perfect fit for the Dolphins' mammoth offense line. Moreover, Sanders was a four-year starter on a top-flight collegiate team. 

3rd Round: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

The Dolphins will look long and hard at the free safeties on the board here, but they can't pass on the tight end position again. Teams like the Saints, Patriots, Packers,Chargers and Lions have elevated their offenses to new heights by investing money and time into young tight ends, and it's time for the 'Fins to do the same. 

Georgia's Orson Charles is one of the most highly touted tight ends in the 2012 draft class, and he should be on the board when Miami picks in the third round. Charles is a bit undersized at 6'3", 240 pounds, but he caught 45 passes for 574 yards and five touchdowns for Georgia this past season. 

Anthony Fasano is not a No. 1-caliber tight end, and the Dolphins are long overdue for an upgrade. Joe Philbin saw first-hand how beneficial a dynamic tight end can be in Green Bay, so expect him to target one in April. 

4th Round: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State

With Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess already on the roster, wide receiver doesn't stick out as a position in need of an upgrade. But, if Joe Philbin plans to install the aerial assault he ran in Green Bay, then the Dolphins must acquire a quality wideout. 

Brian Hartline has meddled in mediocrity thus far, and Miami will need more than three quality wideouts in order for the passing game to thrive. 

The Packers offense is loaded with speedy—but more importantly physical—wide receivers who are reliable and can create separation. Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham fits the bill. Despite playing in a run-heavy offense, the 6'2", 215-pound wideout reeled in 79 receptions for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

5th Round: Ryan Steed, CB, Furman

Outside of Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, the Dolphins have arguably the worst cornerback corps in the entire league. Rookie Jimmy Wilson has intriguing upside, but Miami must rebuild the back end of their secondary in order to be successful next season and beyond. 

The Dolphins' long list of needs will force them to wait until the later rounds of the draft to address the cornerback position, but Furman's Ryan Steed could be a steal. 

Steed is a seasoned four-year starter who dominated at the FCS level. Despite playing against lower-tier competition, Steed's physicality (registered 173 tackles in last three seasons), hands (intercepted 14 passes in career) and leadership (served as a Furman captain) make him an attractive NFL prospect. 

6th Round: Stephen Good, OG, Oklahoma

By drafting Zebrie Sanders in the second round, the Dolphins have only started to overhaul their offensive line. Next on the agenda should be shoring up the right guard spot. 

The Dolphins might not find a starter in the sixth round, but they can find depth. Oklahoma's Stephen Good is a versatile lineman with experience on a championship-caliber offense.

Good has played both right and left guard for the Sooners, and he could become a rotational backup for the 'Fins. And, if Good can pack onto his 6'6", 300-pound frame and polish his game, he could become a starter down the road. 

7th Round: Derrick Moye, WR, Penn State

If the 2011 NFL season taught us one thing, it's that wide receivers are wildly misevaluated. Only three of the league's top 10 wide receivers were first-round picks. Meanwhile, two were undrafted and three were third-round selections. 

So, why not roll the dice on a wide receiver in the last round of the draft—especially if a physical specimen like Penn State's Derek Moye is on the board? Moye boasts a 6'5", 210-pound frame and caught 141 passes for 2,388 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last three seasons. 

Jeff Ireland has shown a liking for Penn State prospects in the past. He signed tight end Brett Brackett as an undrafted free agent last summer, and cornerback A.J. Wallace as an undrafted free agent in 2010—all the more reason to believe the Dolphins could take a flier on Moye.