2012 NFL Draft Preview: Is Ryan Tannehill a Match for the Miami Dolphins?

Since Stephen Ross took over as owner of the Miami Dolphins, the once-proud franchise has become the laughingstock of the NFL.

The star-struck Ross has embarrassed not only himself but also the team in his endless pursuit of star power. Whether it's the pursuit of Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Fisher or Peyton Manning, Ross chases the big fish yet continually gets rebuffed.

His pursuit of Harbaugh occurred while he already had a head coach in place. That upset many in NFL circles.

Some consider the presence of general manager Jeff Ireland to be the reason many find Miami so unappealing. And why wouldn’t they; Ireland doesn’t exactly possess a sterling track record of success as the team’s GM.

Just before free agency, the Dolphins traded their top wide receiver, Brandon Marshall. Marshall was traded away because the team was growing tired of Marshall’s off-field issues.

But Marshall’s departure created another hole.

New coach Joe Philbin will not have a lot to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Matt Moore will return as the starter, unless anyone really believes David Garrard can beat him out.

Moore actually played well in 2011. One would think the team’s endless pursuit of every free-agent quarterback would motivate Moore to even greater heights. Needless to say, Moore isn’t the team’s long-term answer at the quarterback position.

New defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has given the impression the team will switch from a predominantly three-man front to the 4-3. Keeping nose tackle Paul Soliai would seem to indicate the team will employ more of a hybrid look, alternating between the three-man and four-man fronts.

What are the Miami Dolphins' three biggest needs heading into the NFL Draft?

Quarterback: Offensive coordinator Mike Sherman coached Ryan Tannehill in college at Texas A&M. Tannehill is widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in this draft. Picking at No. 8, the Dolphins may be in position to get Tannehill without moving up.

Sherman knows Tannehill well, but that may not always be a positive thing. As a senior, the Aggies finished 6-6 and Sherman was fired. Tannehill was not good enough to save Sherman’s job. That is telling.

Tannehill, a former wide receiver, possesses a strong arm, excellent athleticism and good size. He lacks experience, and if the Dolphins draft him, he will need to sit for a while. Many don’t consider him a top-10 talent, but the quarterback position is graded differently, and if the Dolphins believe in Tannehill, he is worth the pick.

Wide Receiver: The Dolphins have Davone Bess and little else. Bess, an ideal slot receiver, is coming off his least-productive season.

Picking at No. 8, the Dolphins could select Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. Floyd has good size and speed and was a highly-productive player in college.

The draft’s depth at wide receiver could allow the Dolphins to upgrade the position in later rounds. In the second round, the Dolphins could look at Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers, Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech or Rueben Randle of LSU. All would be big upgrades.

Brian Quick is an intriguing option as well. The Appalachian State product is raw but did well when he played against better competition in college. A former basketball player, Quick has tremendous size and speed. He also has surprisingly good ball skills for a player with his relative inexperience.

Randle is perhaps the most polished of the second-round options and could provide big plays immediately if given the opportunity.

Right Tackle: This position has been a revolving door for a few seasons now. Marc Colombo manned this position in 2011 and the team clearly needs to upgrade. There are no alternatives currently on the roster.

With Jake Long on the left side and Mike Pouncey at center, the Dolphins have the makings of a good group, but the right side has continued to be a problem.

Riley Reiff of Iowa is considered the second-best offensive tackle in this draft. He will be available at No. 8, but with more pressing needs, the Dolphins will look to fill this position later.

Mitchell Schwartz of California and Bobby Massie of Mississippi could both be second-round targets. Massie is the more athletic of the two, but both would present an immediate upgrade on the right side. Schwartz is seen as the ideal right tackle candidate in the NFL.

Jonathan Martin of Stanford was once considered a lock for the first round. However, many see Martin’s pass-blocking as an issue, and he could fall out of the first round. If Martin falls, the Dolphins would be wise to select him.