5 Linebackers the Miami Dolphins Must Consider in 2015 NFL Draft

In order to figure out where you're going, you have to know where you are.

That's not quite the old adage, but it more closely approximates what the Miami Dolphins are going through at the linebacker position this offseason. 

There are a few big-name players with big-number contracts that could create big-time cap savings. With Philip Wheeler ($4.4 million cap hit in 2015) and Dannell Ellerbe ($9.85 million cap hit in 2015) both entering the third year of their contracts, the Dolphins have some decisions to make that could affect their offseason plan at linebacker.

From there, the Dolphins must also decide where to deploy linebacker Koa Misi, recently signed to a four-year, $17 million contract extension. 

With so many balls in the air, the Dolphins' plans will be determined by where they fall. Here's a look at some of the options, with the knowledge that ambiguity could ultimately determine the Dolphins' offseason direction.

Shaq Thompson, Washington

At 6'2" and 231 pounds, Shaq Thompson is more of a finesse linebacker than a physical one. He is effective at the point of attack when it comes to shedding the blocks of offensive linemen, but he is also overpowered by them at times due to his sheer lack of size. It makes sense, then, that he converted from safety to linebacker.

Despite his diminutive frame, CBS Sports' Rob Rang thinks it's such a good fit, he even projected Thompson to the Dolphins with their first-round pick: "Thompson starred at safety, linebacker and running back for the Huskies but projects best as a hybrid defender in the NFL. He's instinctive, athletic and a reliable open-field tackler whose game is well-suited to today's wide-open NFL."

Thompson's skills would be most well-suited for helping the Dolphins in coverage of slot receivers and tight ends over the middle, but if the Dolphins are looking for someone to upgrade their run defense, Thompson may not be the best candidate for the job.

Denzel Perryman, Miami

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With Ellerbe and Wheeler, the Dolphins have lacked toughness in the running game from time to time. They ranked in the bottom 10 in the league in rushing yards allowed per game in 2013 and 2014. If the Dolphins want to plug in an old-school linebacker with a physical style of play, Miami's Denzel Perryman may be a good fit.

According to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Perryman isn't considered a "twitchy athlete," but he has the strength and toughness to deliver "a jarring punch into oncoming offensive linemen" who are trying to block him at the second level.

An AFC scout told Zierlein that Perryman is a "thumper and badass inside," so if the Dolphins were to select Perryman, it would signal a move outside for Koa Misi. The problem with Perryman is that he can be exposed in coverage due to his lack of quickness, so it would take some smart coaching and scheming to make sure he does not land in those unfavorable matchups too frequently.

Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

Some players just have "the look" while others don't. When Benardrick McKinney walks into a room, he already looks like an NFL player thanks to his presence and build.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared McKinney to Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, calling him a "productive, steady performer in the middle with above-average size and length for the position but below-average agility." CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, on the other hand, commented on the fact that his "value lies with his versatility and raw athleticism," so it may be up to the coaching staff to coax the top-notch athleticism out of him.

McKinney would be a good pick for the Dolphins thanks to his positional versatility to play either inside or outside. With the build for the inside and enough athleticism to hold his own on the outside, McKinney gives the Dolphins the option to be scheme-flexible and also to let things play out during training camp to see who will line up where.

Eric Kendricks, UCLA

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At 6'0" and 230 pounds, UCLA's Eric Kendricks has 4-3 outside linebacker written all over him. He's a bit smaller than some scouts might like in their linebackers, with one NFC regional scout saying, "The only blow-back I anticipate in my room is regarding his size," according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. 

That being said, his production will be hard to ignore. The four-year linebacker had more than 90 solo tackles twice in his career, and he notched two sacks each year. According to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler and Rob Rang, Kendricks is "instinctive, aggressive and a considerably more explosive hitter than his frame suggests." He also has an NFL pedigree, sharing a bloodline with brother and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks. 

One knock against him may be that despite so many tackles, he only managed to generate 14.5 tackles for loss in his career, and he did not have a single tackle behind the line of scrimmage in his senior year. He's also considered a work in progress as a coverage linebacker. But if he can hone his tools to improve in those areas, he'll be well worth a look as a potential fit for the Dolphins.

Paul Dawson, TCU

TCU linebacker Paul Dawson is an intriguing option for the Dolphins if they are searching for someone with scheme flexibility. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says, "Dawson can play inside in a 2-gap scheme but is a natural fit at 4-3 WILL." The Dolphins have used shades of 3-4 and 4-3 schemes with defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle at the helm, and thus Dawson may be a fit.

His athleticism and instincts allow him to track down plays in the open field and attack the line of scrimmage with a hard-nosed mentality. That being said, he'll need to learn to play with a more level-headed approach to stay fundamentally sound and play within the scheme. 

CBS Sports' Rob Rang compares Dawson to Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, saying, "Dawson has the agility and instincts to star if protected up front by a stout defensive line and allowed to roam free." Dawson will be protected by a line that features Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon—not a bad group to allow Dawson to make plays at the second level. 

Unless otherwise noted, all scouting information provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.