5 Hidden Gems the Miami Dolphins Should Have Noticed at the Combine
Every year, the NFL Scouting Combine presents an opportunity for workout warriors to improve or worsen their draft stock.
The distinction of a "workout warrior" in itself is a dubious one. Draft prospects are much better off if they are remembered for their play on a football field than if they are defining themselves by what they do in shorts and a tank top.
With that being said, scouts are oftentimes forced to go back to their notes and the tape to double-check that what they saw from these prospects on game day matches up with what they saw in Indianapolis at the scouting combine. There are more than a handful of prospects who fit into this category each year, but let's take a look at some of the prospects who could be of interest to the Miami Dolphins.
Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
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The Dolphins are in the market for a new cornerback with Cortland Finnegan most likely not coming back for a second season. Many of their cornerbacks are young and developing, in the likes of Jamar Taylor, Will Davis and Walt Aikens, but if the Dolphins want to add one more young, athletic gun to their arsenal, Florida State's Ronald Darby might be a good find.
The 5'11", 193-pound cornerback ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and posted a 41.5-inch vertical leap, which both ranked in the top two among cornerbacks in Indianapolis. He will probably need to get stronger, though, after putting up only 12 reps on the 225-pound bench press, falling outside the top 15 in that category. As such, the comments of an ACC coach come as no surprise:
"I worry about his toughness against the run," the coach said, via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "He's just fine in coverage, but he will have teams running at him every chance they get until he proves he's willing to step up and be tough."
The Dolphins may not want to add another young, inexperienced corner to their depth chart, but if they do, Darby would be a good grab in the third or fourth round.
Jarvis Harrison, OG, Texas A&M
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The Dolphins have invested a lot of resources into improving their offensive line, but the job isn't done quite yet. They still need to find long-term solutions at guard. Texas A&M guard Jarvis Harrison may not be seen as an immediate long-term answer, but he has the tools to develop into one.
The question is whether he has the work ethic to reach his maximum potential.
The 6'4", 330-pound guard clocked a 7.51-second finish in the three-cone drill, a measure of agility that could cause Dolphins scouts to wonder about the possibilities of putting him in as a pulling guard. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein already considers pulling to be a strength of Harrison's, saying he "glides to second level using proper angles" and that he is "comfortable finding and hitting targets in space."
If the Dolphins like what they see, they may not be able to wait around past Day 2 of the draft.
Kwon Alexander, OLB, LSU
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With veteran linebackers Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe looking like potential salary-cap casualties, the Dolphins may need to infuse some athleticism and youth into their depth chart at linebacker.
LSU's Kwon Alexander posted some impressive numbers at the scouting combine, finishing in the top 10 among linebackers in the 225-pound bench press (24 reps), No. 2 in the 40-yard dash (4.55 seconds) and the top 15 in the broad jump (10'1") and the vertical jump (36").
The 6'1", 227-pound linebacker may be a little undersized, but according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, he is "an outside 'backer with a chance to become a starter in a 4-3 defense" and he "can come in and play on special teams right away."
If the Dolphins want to add Alexander to their defense, they will probably need to fork over a third- or fourth-round pick to get it done.
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Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
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One area the Dolphins must improve this offseason is in the red zone. One way to do that is to add a freakishly big and athletic prospect to their already loaded depth chart at wide receiver.
Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley caught 20 touchdown passes in four years in the SEC, and with 117 receptions and a touchdown rate of 17.1 percent, there's no doubting that Conley has a nose for the end zone. His tremendous 45-inch vertical leap will only make scouts salivate even more over his ability to high-point passes.
Although he was not considered a burner at college, his 4.35-second 40-yard dash is evidence of his ability to turn on the jets and may cause scouts to go back for a second look at the tape to see if it matches up with their previous analysis.
The Dolphins could nab Conley with a mid-round selection and immediately bolster their offense.
Jesse James, TE, Penn State
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Speaking of red-zone threats, Penn State tight end Jesse James isn't exactly a "hidden gem," considering he was already regarded as one of the top tight end prospects in this year's class, but if the Dolphins went into Indianapolis looking for pass-catchers who can win with size and athleticism, they came away with copious notes on James.
He was the top performer in the broad jump (10'1"), the second-best in the vertical jump (37.5") and the bench press (26 reps) and had the fifth-best time in the 60-yard shuttle (12.15 seconds). The trouble is, his freakish workout numbers do not match up with his on-field numbers. You would expect more than 78 career receptions and 11 touchdowns with those kind of combine numbers.
That may be why NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says he is "limited by a lack of functional athleticism," if his ability to light up the scouting combine does not translate to the football field, some scouts could see it as a red flag.
With all that being said, James would be a smart pick in the third or fourth round on upside alone.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting combine information obtained via NFL.com.
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