Miami Dolphins 2012 Draft Needs: Ranking the Possible Options at TE

Let's be honest: tight end is not a need for the Dolphins. At least not one of their top three needs, as Miami needs to address quarterback, wide receiver and pass rusher before they even think about tight end. Defensive back could be included ahead of tight end, with the loss of Yeremiah Bell and the need for a good nickel back.

I will tackle the primer on pass rushers soon, but for now let's examine this weak tight end class and who Miami might target.

The Luxury Picks

Even if it was a bigger need, these tight ends will go too high for Miami to seriously target.

Coby Fleener

At 6'6", the former Stanford tight end ran a blazing 4.45 at his pro day. That caused an uproar in the draft community, to the point where some began putting him in the middle of the first round.

Though that was a bit of an overreaction, Fleener has primed himself to be a late first-round pick.

Fleener has drawn comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, but they are unfair—Gronk is a one-of-a-kind beast. (Incidentally, the Dolphins had a chance to draft him but instead took Koa Misi.) Rather, Fleener's best NFL comparison is Greg Olsen.

If his pro day really did vault Fleener into the first round, there is no way Miami should even consider drafting him unless they have made several moves down in the first to acquire more picks. Even in the second round, Fleener or any other tight end would be an indulgent pick for a team with bigger needs elsewhere.

Dwayne Allen

After beginning draft season as the top tight end in the draft class, Allen has all but fallen off the radar as Fleener grabbed all the press.

Somehow, the perception that Allen is not a good blocker has permeated into public acceptance. That is far from the truth.

Blocking aside, Allen is a real seam threat. He is an excellent pass-catcher, and quite athletic despite his combine and pro day numbers. Where he may falter is his route-running and lack of a mindset to dominate smaller defenders.

Miami would likely be overpaying for him in the second round, again because it is not a vital position of need. But if he is there when their pair of third-round picks rolls around, Allen would be ripe for the picking. 

Second Cut

These tight ends could be there for Miami in the middle rounds, a better place for them to start looking to draft one.

Michael Egnew

Egnew thrived two seasons ago before Blaine Gabbert was drafted by the Jaguars, but his senior season left something to be desired. 

Unfortunately for him, his step back has been a lead weight on his draft stock. His loss could be Miami's gain.

Egnew has plenty of tools to be successful in the NFL—he has good size at 6'5" and 251 pounds, showed good speed at the combine by running a 4.63 40, and flashed his athleticism with a 36" vertical leap. The former receiver also has good hands and route-running skills.

His biggest knock? He was not asked to block much at Missouri. He projects as a "joker" tight end more so than in-line, and that is precisely what Miami needs. Fasano would stay in-line and Miami could move Egnew and Charles Clay around.

If Egnew falls into the fourth round without the Dolphins having drafted a tight end—a distinct probability—Miami would seriously consider adding to their stable with the underrated Egnew. 

Ladarius Green

Like Egnew, the Louisiana-Lafayette product has a great blend of size and athleticism, standing just under 6'5" and running a blistering 4.53 at the combine.

Unlike his Missouri counterpart, however, Green is raw at the position. 

His combination of gifts will be intriguing enough for teams to target him early in the middle rounds, to the point where he could go near Miami's third-round pair of picks.

Green would certainly fit a similar "joker" role as Egnew, but the value may not be there for Miami to draft him that high. Should he fall into the fourth, however, Miami would do well to snatch him up. He could be one of the draft's hidden gems down the line.

Orson Charles

Were it not for Vontaze Burfict's precipitous fall, Charles' might be more noticeable.

At one point some considered him the top tight end prospect in the draft. Then the combine and his pro day happened. Add to this an arrest for a DUI and we have a recipe for a big draft-day tumble.

As for his on-field performance, Charles does not quite stack up to some other prospects either at 6'3", putting him in the Aaron Hernandez range. That is not a bad comparison, however, and there is certainly talent in that frame.

Whether Charles goes in the second round like his original projection or somewhere down the line, he is too similar to Charles Clay for Miami to seriously consider. If his fall puts him somewhere in the fourth or fifth round, though, perhaps Miami will not be able to resist.

Projects

Late-round prospects. Nothing more.

Chase Ford

Ford made some waves this draft season with an excellent East-West Shrine game. Where that talent was during his time with the Hurricanes is a mystery, but the 6'6", 253-pound tight end has excellent size and decent speed for the positions.

He was underwhelming in college, so expectations of him should be tempered, but he very well could be a sixth- or seventh-round target for the Dolphins.

Deangelo Peterson

Peterson is as athletic as they come. Unfortunately, he is just as raw.

He caught just 18 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown last season with LSU, though Les Miles recently hinted he was not utilized enough by his quarterbacks. 

Like Charles, Peterson falls in the smaller range of tight ends at 6'3", so the Dolphins may just pass on him altogether.

James Hanna

The former Sooner had a decent year, catching 27 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns from Landry Jones, and he projects to be a late-round flier.

Hanna possesses good athleticism, running a 4.49 40 along with a 36" vertical leap at the combine. He, too, is on the smaller side at 6'3", perhaps falling victim to the Charles Clay comparison as well.

After the Draft

Brian Linthicum

At just under 6'4", Linthicum has a history of injury issues. That and his unimpressive body of work will likely scare teams away from drafting him, and my instinct tells me Miami will not take a good look at him as a UDFA.

Rhett Ellison

The USC product simply has average athleticism and low upside. Ellison does not fit head coach Joe Philbin's offense very well. He will find a team after the draft, but do not bet on the Dolphins being one of them.