The Miami Dolphins' Round 1 Big Board Before Combine
There are three months to go until the 2015 NFL draft, and a lot will change between now and then as it relates to which prospects end up being drafted by which teams, and in which rounds.
Thus, a predictive first-round big board is bound to come out looking a little foolish by the end of the process. That being said, it helps to know where things stand now so that one can better gauge the results of what happens between now and draft day.
With free agency still on the horizon, the Miami Dolphins' needs are laid out for them: defensive tackle, guard, cornerback, linebacker and running back. The events of the next three months will definitely shape which positions the Dolphins end up addressing in the draft, but even if they address several needs before then, they will still have some long-term needs to fill.
Likewise, these prospects will either improve or damage their draft stock, and thus, certain sure-fire prospects may end up sliding.
All we can work with is the information we have now, but here are some of the players the Dolphins could be scouting ahead of the 2015 scouting combine.
5. Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
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Inside linebackers are not typically considered the kind of players a team would draft with a pick in the top half of the first round, but Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney is not a typical inside linebacker. He is capable of playing inside and outside in a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme, and has the football intelligence to master all of them.
According to CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Dane Brugler, McKinney "reportedly clock[ed] in the 4.5s and post[ed] a 34-inch vertical jump at 245 pounds," which are impressive feats of athleticism for anyone, much less someone of his size and stature.
The Dolphins must be cognizant of something with McKinney, though: Scouting reports seem to be in agreement that while his versatility is virtually unlimited, his upside is limited. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says he "lacks star-making talent," and Rang and Brugler say he's "athletic enough to project to any linebacker role but may never truly star at any of them."
The No. 14 pick may be a little rich for McKinney, but given the Dolphins' lack of depth and stability at linebacker, they would be foolish not to consider him among their top prospects for the draft.
4. Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
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With Randy Starks, Jared Odrick and Earl Mitchell on the inside, the Miami Dolphins need to start considering getting younger at defensive tackle. One prospect who should be in their crosshairs is Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown.
At 6'2" and 320 pounds, Brown has the size to anchor in the running game, which is not a strong suit for the Dolphins' current defensive tackles. That being said, he doesn't lack in the explosiveness off the line of scrimmage that has made Odrick and Starks forces to be reckoned with in the passing game.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller sent Brown to the Dolphins in his latest mock draft, and it makes sense, given his fit in their defense and his ability to provide them a presence they currently lack. CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Dane Brugler compared Brown to Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Arthur Jones, with the versatility to line up in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment and the imposing size and strength to control gaps at the NFL level.
3. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
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Brent Grimes is a quality shutdown cornerback capable of playing in the Dolphins' versatile defensive scheme. Other than that, the Dolphins' depth chart at cornerback is about as deep as a kiddie pool. Cortland Finnegan did not play well last year, and will likely be asked to either take a pay cut or take off from the Dolphins' roster.
Even if the Dolphins are able to retain Finnegan, they have some serious question marks in the secondary. Jamar Taylor has spent most of the first two years of his career sidelined with one injury or another, and the same could be said for Will Davis.
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes is regarded as the top cornerback prospect in this year's class by many scouting websites, including CBS Sports and NFL.com. At 6'1", he has the height to match up with most NFL receivers. He also has the ability to play bump-and-run coverage, with the length and long speed to match up man-to-man in those situations.
He lacks ideal bulk, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in the 225-pound bench press at the scouting combine. He could also really up his stock with a fast 40-yard dash time. Either way, the Dolphins should be salivating over the thought of pairing him with Grimes for at least the next three years.
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2. Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
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As mentioned earlier, some attrition at defensive tackle may impact the Dolphins' decision-making this offseason. With Jared Odrick set to hit the open market, the Dolphins may soon be in need of depth at defensive tackle. One prospect they should be targeting is Florida State's Eddie Goldman.
Goldman looks like such a good fit, in fact, that CBS Sports' Rob Rang projected Goldman as a pick for the Dolphins because of his combination of power and quickness. Rang writes:
"Jared Odrick is a free agent and there has been talk that the Dolphins might release veteran Randy Starks, who ranked worst among Miami's defensive linemen last year against the run. The 6'4", 320-pound Goldman is powerful and surprisingly quick, making him a good fit and potentially much cheaper option.
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The 6'4", 320-pound monster has the size to contain multiple gaps on the inside, and enough quickness to give his opponents some trouble as a pass-rusher. That sounds like about the opposite of what Odrick brings to the table, but exactly like what the Dolphins need more of in their defensive interior.
1. Paul Dawson, ILB, TCU
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With a lot of question marks at linebacker this offseason in the form of Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler's overpriced contracts, the Dolphins may be in the market for new linebackers.
With a few things left to be determined, TCU's Paul Dawson is a good option for the Dolphins to cover all their bases with a scheme-versatile linebacker. Dawson's strong suit, however, is as a 4-3 weak-side linebacker, which is an area the Dolphins could use some help. Wheeler is the current weak-side linebacker, and if Wheeler is on his way out, drafting Dawson would help in allowing Koa Misi to be the middle linebacker.
Dawson has a blend of athleticism and instincts which allow him to see a play as it unfolds and track it down. He can also diagnose plays pre-snap and has the toughness to crash the line of scrimmage. He could benefit from a more level-headed approach to ensure he's not missing tackles with poor technique or losing his lanes too often and opening up a hole for the opposing running back.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein also said he is "not a film studier" so he will have to prove to scouts that he has the football intelligence to break down film. It shows up on tape, but will it show up in the classroom?
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting information provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
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