Miami Dolphins' Initial 2015 Round-by-Round Draft Big Board
The college football season has officially ended, and NFL front offices are getting ready to turn over every stone as they search for potential draft picks. With collegiate all-star games underway this month, scouts and general managers alike are setting up their lists of guys who can succeed with their franchise.
In general manager Dennis Hickey’s first draft with the Miami Dolphins, he showed that the organization was willing to select players from all sorts of backgrounds. Almost every draftee and undrafted free-agent signing was a team captain in college, but Hickey did roll the dice on players like Walt Aikens, Damien Williams and Chris McCain.
As we set up the Dolphins’ seven-round big board, it’s important to keep Miami’s strategy in mind. Hickey showed that he likes to fill holes early on and then select some developmental players later.
With that in mind, let’s identify five players in each round whom the Dolphins should consider drafting. If a position is addressed in an earlier round, it's more than likely that position will not be considered later.
1st Round
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The Dolphins’ first-round pick this year should not only fill an immediate hole but have significant physical upside to improve as well. This line of thinking is similar to “best player available" while also considering some of the deficiencies on the roster.
It’s likely that Miami purges its wide receiver group due to cost, talent and attitude issues, so the top target should be West Virginia receiver Kevin White. He’d bring a dynamic presence that can win when contested.
Miami’s defense could also use a playmaker, so defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and cornerback Trae Waynes could provide an instant spark and long-term solution. Phillips is a mammoth, yet he's disruptive as the man in the middle of the defense. Waynes is a smooth-cover cornerback who projects as a No. 1 defensive back.
Should those three options be off the board, Miami can still grab an offensive lineman like Ereck Flowers to complete its offensive-line makeover. Flowers has the physical profile to play either guard or tackle, which Miami needs with Branden Albert’s injury.
Linebacker Benardrick McKinney could be the Dolphins’ next stud inside linebacker, should he be available. He’s not really a stack-and-shed player, but he chases plays down extremely well. With his 6’4”, 250-pound frame and 4.4 speed, he’s got limitless potential.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| WR | Kevin White | West Virginia | 6'3" | 210 |
| DT | Jordan Phillips | Oklahoma | 6'6" | 324 |
| CB | Trae Waynes | Michigan State | 6'1" | 183 |
| OL | Ereck Flowers | Miami (FL) | 6'5" | 324 |
| LB | Benardrick McKinney | Mississippi State | 6'4" | 249 |
2nd Round
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Whichever position the Dolphins take in the first round, their second-round options likely will shrink to reflect that addition. Considering the holes on the roster, the same positions should stay as top priority, with the only deviation coming if there is a significantly more talented player available.
Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and linebacker Eric Kendricks should be at the top of Miami’s second-round wish list. Both players can come in Day 1 and impact a defense that sorely needs playmakers.
Should Miami miss out on a wide receiver in the first round, Devin Funchess is one name that should excite the front office. Funchess has had some issues with drops, but his situation at Michigan made it difficult for any of the playmakers to perform well. With his 6’5”, 230-pound frame and likely sub-4.55 speed, he could be the next Alshon Jeffrey.
The second round also likely brings other secondary options. Press specialist Eric Rowe from Utah is a long cornerback with great potential as he continues to develop. Fresno State free safety Derron Smith could also come in early and potentially start, which again is the goal of this second-round selection.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| DT | Eddie Goldman | Florida State | 6'3" | 320 |
| LB | Eric Kendricks | UCLA | 6'0" | 230 |
| WR | Devin Funchess | Michigan | 6'5" | 230 |
| CB | Eric Rowe | Utah | 6'1" | 195 |
| FS | Derron Smith | Fresno State | 5'11" | 197 |
3rd Round
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Once Miami gets to the third round, it gets much harder to find an NFL-ready player for Year 1. Often, these players have either a character concern or need to bulk up to really contribute. 2014 third-round pick Billy Turner is a good example of this.
If the offensive line hasn’t been addressed yet, this is the time to add another depth piece. Utah’s Jeremiah Poutasi and Arizona State’s Jamil Douglas each have tackle experience but project best as interior linemen. This is perfect for Miami, which may need another swing tackle for backup purposes.
Tennessee State’s Robert Myers is a pure guard but projects well to Miami’s zone-blocking scheme. He’s agile yet powerful, although he is similar to Billy Turner in terms of rawness and consistency.
Should Miami have already added an offensive lineman, cornerback Doran Grant from Ohio State or UCF receiver Breshad Perriman would be an excellent match for the Dolphins.
Grant has experience playing on-man coverage and in zone, although he does excel in man more often. He’s physical and capable of shutting down a portion of the field for stretches of the game.
Perriman is a large man at 6’2”, 215 pounds. He’s a physical specimen who declared early for the NFL draft. He’s also the son of former NFL receiver Brett Perriman. His ability to adjust to the ball midair and pluck it at the highest point is a skill that translates well to the NFL.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| OL | Jeremiah Poutasi | Utah | 6'6" | 322 |
| CB | Doran Grant | Ohio State | 5'11" | 193 |
| WR | Breshad Perriman | UCF | 6'2" | 215 |
| OG | Robert Myers | Tennessee State | 6'5" | 310 |
| OL | Jamil Douglas | Arizona State | 6'4" | 300 |
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4th Round
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Every year, there is good talent that falls into Day 3 of the draft, and it’s time to value-shop for players who can fill immediate needs with upside. The other approach is to take players who are raw but have huge upsides. Both approaches are respectable as long as the coaching staff is committed to using players correctly.
Although Ryan Tannehill is Miami’s quarterback for the foreseeable future, that doesn’t mean that a developmental quarterback should be shunned.
Enter the best prospect for development in the class, Chris Bonner. Bonner has been on NFL scouts’ radar for a few seasons with his 6’7” frame and cannon for an arm. Expect his name to rise in the draft process.
If Bonner is already gone, Miami should look to grab whichever playmaker falls unexpectedly. Yes, this includes adding another receiver if one has been taken earlier. To build a strong roster, it takes impact players, not just filling holes every round.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| QB | Chris Bonner | Colorado State-Pueblo | 6'7" | 225 |
| RB | David Cobb | Minnesota | 5'11" | 229 |
| LB | Stephone Anthony | Clemson | 6'2" | 236 |
| WR | Devin Smith | Ohio State | 6'1" | 197 |
| TE | Tyler Kroft | Rutger | 6'5" | 240 |
5th Round
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The most intriguing name that has been popping up at the East-West Shrine Game practices is Darren Waller. Waller is a 6’6”, 245-pound receiver who likely moves to tight end in the NFL. Coming from Georgia Tech, he’s tough to project but has massive upside with his athleticism.
Jordan Hicks is another player who could pay off big for the Dolphins, although he has a lot of experience playing. The former Longhorn is an ideal strong-side linebacker candidate with his coverage fluidity and ability to shed blocks.
As usual with the latter rounds, the trio of John Miller, Chucky Hunter and Brandon Bridge all need physical development to various degrees. Each are raw technicians and are probably a year away from contributing.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| TE | Darren Waller | Georgia Tech | 6'6" | 245 |
| LB | Jordan Hicks | Texas | 6'2" | 238 |
| DT | Chucky Hunter | TCU | 6'1" | 300 |
| OG | John Miller | Louisville | 6'2" | 312 |
| QB | Brandon Bridge | South Alabama | 6'5" | 235 |
6th Round
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In the final two rounds, it’s time to swing for the fences and hope for a home run. Many of the players who fall this far have character concerns or perceived limitations that could hold them back from a successful career.
But good talent evaluation and usage routinely finds a gem in these rounds. It’s important for the team to locate these studs.
With each of the players mentioned, there is significant potential to be developed. Jarvis Harrison has experience at guard and tackle and shows great power with his hands. His feet are slow, but having length and power is a big trait.
ECU receiver Cam Worthy broke out at the end of the season, and his 6’2”, 200-pound frame is ideal for development. He plays the ball midair well and just needs to add weight and refine his routes.
Chattanooga pass-rusher Davis Tull has been uber-productive in college with his speed off the edge. He’s not bendy, but he is disruptive with quickness and a solid rip-and-shed move.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| RB | John Crockett | North Dakota State | 6'0" | 202 |
| OLB | Davis Tull | Chattanooga | 6'3" | 240 |
| WR | Cam Worthy | ECU | 6'2" | 200 |
| OL | Jarvis Harrison | Texas A&M | 6'4" | 330 |
| CB | Bernard Blake | Colorado State | 6'0" | 185 |
7th Round
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To finish off the draft, Miami should take a flier on a player who falls but has value on special teams while he develops, or it should take the developmental quarterback that it may have passed on earlier.
Last year, Miami found Terrence Fede out of Marist. This year, the late-round steal could be receiver Donatella Luckett, safety Tevin McDonald or a player from a bigger program, like Jon Feliciano. Either way, these are players worthy of a flier pick.
| Position | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| OG | Jon Feliciano | Miami (FL) | 6'5" | 316 |
| FS | Tevin McDonald | Eastern Washington | 5'11" | 197 |
| CB | Bryce Callahan | Rice | 5'10" | 185 |
| WR | Donatella Luckett | Harding | 6'0" | 210 |
| QB | Connor Halliday | Washington State | 6'4" | 201 |
Ian Wharton is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, contributor for Optimum Scouting and analyst for eDraft.
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