Dolphins Mock Draft: Instant Contributors Miami Can Find in Every Round
For years, the Miami Dolphins have been adding their big-time players through free agency, trying to get the team over the hump as quickly as possible.
The free-agent market is great for adding established players to the roster, but it's not the only way to find instant contributors. The draft is usually regarded as the time and place to address a team's long-term needs, but that does not mean a team can't find some immediate impact players that way as well.
Take wide receiver Jarvis Landry, for example, who wasted no time getting up to speed in the NFL with a huge rookie season that put him on the map as the Dolphins' No. 1 pass-catcher and one of the better young receivers in the league.
Here's a look at some players who have the potential to be the next Jarvis Landry for the Dolphins, with a look at one player who could fill a need in each round where the Dolphins have a selection.
Round 1
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Yes, the Dolphins have Lamar Miller under their employ, but no, he should not be the only back they rely upon to produce for them in the running game.
Georgia running back Todd Gurley's status as an instant contributor is hazy given the uncertainty around his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered back in November. That being said, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com, "NFL teams are hearing that Gurley should be ready for the start of training camp."
Before that injury, though, Gurley was more productive than an assembly line worker, putting up 3,210 rushing yards in his career (12th in the country) and 35 rushing touchdowns (tied for 10th), despite missing nine games in the final two years of his time at Georgia.
If Gurley is on track to be ready for the beginning of the season, he could immediately provide a one-two- punch for the Dolphins backfield as a complement to Miller.
Round 2
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The Dolphins' linebacker depth chart has been through more changes than a pubescent teenage boy. They bade farewell to veterans Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe thanks to a string of offseason cap moves that helped free up the space needed to sign defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. With those moves, young linebackers Jelani Jenkins and Dion Jordan move up the depth chart and potentially into starting roles.
The Dolphins have more than enough depth at the position, but lacking surefire starters, they may still need to address the position. That's where Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney comes into play. McKinney has the purebred linebacker "look" at 6'4" and 246 pounds. He also has the traits, and NFL.com's Lance Zierlein drawing the comparison between McKinney and 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."
The Dolphins still have to sort out who would be playing in which spots at linebacker, but thanks to his positional versatility, McKinney would give the Dolphins some more flexibility in that area. Koa Misi could play either outside or inside, as could McKinney, so the two could be used interchangeably at those spots.
Round 4
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The cornerback position is one of the hardest to project in the draft thanks to the simplicity of the defensive schemes that are run at the collegiate level along with the dramatically lower level of competition some of those players face.
That being said, a player like Utah's Eric Rowe could be considered as a potential fit for the Dolphins in the fourth round. Rowe has the size at 6'1" and 205 pounds that most NFL teams covet in their cornerbacks. The Dolphins have a need at the position, with Brent Grimes on one side and a question mark at the other positions (although Brice McCain will probably start in the slot).
The question with Rowe is whether or not his skills will work for him outside of the scheme that he played in college. For that reason, CBS Sports' Rob Rang says he may project better as a safety than a cornerback at the NFL level. Even if he takes some time to transition into his role in the defense, he will immediately contribute on special teams, where he could play on any coverage unit.
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Round 5
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All Georgia Tech does is churn out big-bodied receivers. Whether it's Calvin Johnson, Stephen Hill or Darren Waller, the Yellow Jackets always seem to have a physically imposing receiver at their disposal.
Waller stands 6'6" and weighs 238 pounds, but he has surprising speed for such a big guy and ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. Despite his timed speed, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says he "loses speed when turning to locate the ball" and also calls him a "raw route runner with limited exposure to complex routes."
Even with those limitations, Waller would immediately provide a tall presence in the red zone, where the Dolphins currently lack firepower. Wide receiver Kenny Stills and tight ends Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims are a nice starting point in that sense, but Waller would put the Dolphins over the edge in the red zone department.
Waller was not incredibly productive at college, posting a career-high 26 receptions for 442 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, but he has the tools to be a surprise early contributor to the Dolphins offense.
Round 6
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If you're looking for an instant contributor in the sixth round, good luck. This round is usually reserved for career backups and core special teams players.
That being said, the Dolphins' need at guard is just great enough that perhaps a potential backup could be a starter for them. That's where Mississippi State's Ben Beckwith comes into play. He has the build of an NFL offensive linemen at 6'3" and 306 pounds, with what CBS Sports' Rob Rang describes as the "frame only an offensive line coach would love" with "broad shoulders and a thick lower half that makes him well-suited to winning the battle of leverage in the pit."
Where Beckwith could struggle is with quickness, where Rang says Beckwith is "a half-step slow off the ball and frequently is left to 'catch' defensive linemen and ride their momentum out of the play." At the same time, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Beckwith "isn't built to block on the move with consistency," which could be a problem for him in the Dolphins' zone-blocking scheme up front.
Is Beckwith better than the likes of Dallas Thomas? That could be the ultimate determining factor in whether he is able to start right away.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting combine information provided by NFL.com.
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