Miami Dolphins Mock Draft: Odds on 2012 First-Round Selections

We're only 16 days away from the 2012 NFL Draft, but there are still multiple prospects whom the Miami Dolphins might select with the eighth overall pick. 

Public consensus believes the 'Fins will pick Ryan Tannehill, but how often does the NFL Draft go according to plan?

Before you become infatuated with the idea of the Dolphins drafting Tannehill—which many of you already have—consider some of the other prospects the team can draft with its first-round pick.

Here are updated odds on which prospect Miami might ultimately select.

Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

New defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle is known for soaking production out of mediocre defensive backs, and the Dolphins recently signed former Vikings safety Tyrell Johnson.

So, the odds of the team drafting Mark Barron with the eighth overall pick have declined, but it's still not impossible. 

The only safeties the Dolphins currently have under contract are Chris Clemons, Reshad Jones, Tyrone Culver and Johnson. Undoubtedly, the 'Fins could use a domineering, instinctual player like Barron to bolster their defense as a whole. 

However, he might not warrant a top 10 selection. 

Odds: 15 to 1

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

There's an almost unanimous consensus that the Rams will draft Justin Blackmon with the sixth overall pick, but there's a chance he falls to the Dolphins. Blackmon is only 6'1", 214 pounds, and although he plays bigger than that, his size is concerning.

Since 2005, only four receivers with comparable size were drafted inside the top 10: Troy Williamson, Ted Ginn, Jr., Michael Crabtree and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Not exactly great company. 

There's still only a minute chance Blackmon slips past St. Louis, but it's a possibility. 

Odds: 12 to 1

Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, South Carolina

Melvin Ingram has everything you could possibly want in a prospect, except for one thing—size. 

At 6'1", 264 pounds, Ingram is undersized for a pass-rusher. In the NFL, he'll face offensive linemen who are six inches taller and 60 pounds heavier. And, only one player shorter than 6'3" ranked inside the top 15 in sacks last season (Antwan Barnes). 

Ingram could be the next Elvis Dumervil, but every draft pick is a calculated risk and he might be too much of a gamble at eighth overall. 

Odds: 7 to 1

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa / Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Isn't it amazing how fast and unanimously everybody changes their mock draft selections?

Just a few weeks ago, it was tough to find a mock draft that didn't have the Dolphins selecting Riley Reiff with their first-round pick. Now, everybody is on the Ryan Tannehill bandwagon. 

Anyway, I grouped Reiff and Jonathan Martin together because if Miami chooses to draft a tackle, it's a toss-up between the two. 

Odds: 7 to 1

David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

If the Dolphins take a best-player-available approach to the draft, then offensive guard David DeCastro could be their first-round pick. 

It's unlikely, yes, but few prospects have aced every portion of the pre-draft process like DeCastro. After the combine, for example, Mike Mayock said, "When you get [DeCastro], you’re going to plug him in day one and he’s going to be your starting guard—of course the exception could be injury or free agency—but he could be your starting guard for the next 10 years."

DeCastro is one of the draft's most polished players and the right side of Miami's offensive line still needs help. 

Odds: 6 to 1

Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

I took some heat for my latest mock draft, which has the Dolphins drafting Quinton Coples rather than Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick. Even though the draft is merely two weeks away, I'm still not convinced the 'Fins will use a top-10 draft pick on a player riding an unprecedented wave of hype. 

Many of you voiced your concerns about Coples's lack of effort and production, but consider a few things: 

1. Yes, his production slipped in 2011, but not drastically so. Coples racked up 10 sacks in 2010, and recorded 7.5 in 2011. It's clear Coples didn't give his all on every play, but he also drew increased attention from opposing offensive lines. 

2. Coples was one of, if not, the most outstanding prospect at the Senior Bowl. He showcased a willingness and ability to play defensive end or defensive tackle, a great quality for Miami's hybrid defense. Todd McShay even called Coples "the best player on the field."  

3. Maybe Coples didn't give admirable effort last season, but he didn't totally mail it in. ESPN's scouting report says that Coples was a "vocal leader among the defensive line during senior season."

Odds: 3 to 1

Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

Although I'm not convinced the Dolphins will draft Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick yet, he still has to be considered the odds-on favorite. 

The Dolphins are starving for a franchise quarterback, and Tannehill has the potential to become one. He is a great athlete who ran a West Coast offense designed by new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. 

Sherman, who served as Texas A&M's head coach from 2008 through 2011, also oversaw Tannehill's development. Tannehill is definitely a reach at eight, but if Sherman, Joe Philbin and Jeff Ireland all believe he will pan out, then they shouldn't hesitate to draft him there. 

Odds: 2 to 1