Miami Dolphins: Cameron Wake Underrated as NFL's 89th Top Player

Cameron Wake is one of the best players in the NFL. There is no doubt about that. After three dominant seasons, he continues to receive recognition. His peers have placed him in the Top 100 players of 2013. Wake comes in at No. 89.

Miami's defensive end notched 15 sacks and forced three fumbles last year. Despite his prowess, Wake continues to be underrated playing for less-than-stellar Dolphin teams that have only participated in one playoff game during his NFL career. The ex-Nittany Lion was No. 63 in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2011 and was not ranked in 2012, making him the first player ever to return to the Top 100 after not being listed the previous year.

 

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com stated the following about Wake: "You can make the case he's been one of the 10 best defensive players in the NFL over the last three seasons."

 

Rosenthal argued that the Baltimore Ravens' Bernard Pollard (No. 87) and Jacoby Jones (No. 88) had no business being ranked higher than Wake, receiving a boost from their Super Bowl win.  The truth is there will be dozens of players who will be unjustly placed ahead of the Miami Dolphins' sack monster.

Wake is an unbelievable athlete who can move his 6'3", 258-pound frame to the tune of 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  While playing for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, in an amazing athletic feat, Wake grabbed $30 taped to the ceiling of a training facility.

If the Dolphins' first round draft choice, Dion Jordan, has an immediate impact applying pressure on quarterbacks, then Wake will be freed up on the opposite end and have his best campaign in the NFL.

 

While the top 80 players have not been revealed as of yet, Mike Pouncey is a likely selection. Several Dolphins, including Mike Wallace, Reshad Jones, Paul Soliai, Randy Starks, andDannell Ellerbe have an outside chance of making the cut.

 

In 2012, Mike Wallace (No. 47) was the only current Dolphin to be named to the NFL's Top 100.

 

If there is a method to general manager's Jeff Ireland's madness, then Miami will dominate the NFL's top-player roll call in 2014.