Miami Dolphins Draft Countdown: Making the Case for DeVante Parker

Sometimes, part of the rebuilding process involves tearing things down to their very foundation to build all over from the start.

The Miami Dolphins haven't gone quite that far, but they've definitely started breaking down the walls by completely renovating the depth chart at wide receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker.

And when you're building a brand new wall, are you going to want to use brand new wood or something that's been sitting around for six years or more?

That's why the Dolphins should turn to the draft to fill their needs, and that's why Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker should be at the top of their wish list come draft day.

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.@DraftCountdown: "DeVante Parker might be the best fit for the Dolphins at #14 when it comes to value & need."

— The Finsiders (@TheFinsiders) March 30, 2015"

Parker would take the Dolphins from a group that lost a lot of star power to one that looks poised to surpass the production of their predecessors. Matching Parker with Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry would give the Dolphins a dynamic, playmaking trio of pass-catchers.

Here's a look at what DeVante Parker would add to the mix. 

Measurables

Parker looks like an NFL wide receiver.

One of the concerns around some college pass-catchers is whether they can make the transition to more complex offenses and line up consistently against more talented cornerbacks.

At 6'3" and 209 pounds with 33.25-inch arms, Parker will be a mismatch for nearly anyone who tries to cover him at the professional level, and with a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and a 36.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine, he'll threaten corners equally on deep balls and jump balls.

Credit: YouTube

He put both skills to the test on this touchdown catch against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Teddy Bridgewater threw a bomb more than 30 yards downfield and hit Parker in stride. The ball was a bit underthrown, but it was totally acceptable in this situation. 

All Parker had to do was take his foot off the gas, "body up" the cornerback by getting in front of him and make a leaping catch. 

You can't stop that, you can only hope to contain it. And it's all thanks to God-given measurables that make him a physically imposing pass-catcher.

Parker has been compared to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and former New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks for his jump-ball and deep-ball ability. If he can hit the ceiling of either of those two, he'll be in good shape as an NFL receiver.

Ball Skills

Of course, the previous example of Parker's physical skill also serves as a testament to his ball skills, but there are simply too many examples to keep track of. Some of them are just examples of how a big-bodied receiver can bully a much smaller cornerback, others are proof of something else, something skill-related but also instinctual, something that simply can't be taught.

It's inhuman.

How else do you explain his ability to jump up between two defenders, make a leaping catch, take a massive hit on his way down and still hang onto the ball? 

The Dolphins have seriously improved their pass-catching group over the past 12 months with the addition of Jarvis Landry, Jordan Cameron and Kenny Stills, but their work isn't done quite yet. One more weapon would really round out the passing game, but not just any weapon. 

With Cameron and Stills in the fold, the Dolphins have given themselves two big-bodied threats in the red zone. Parker would make a third, which would make the Dolphins one of the surprisingly good passing attacks of the 2015 season. 

Need

Yes, the Dolphins have made moves to improve their passing game, but they gutted their wide receiving group this offseason by losing Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, Brian Hartline and Charles Clay. They've almost made up for it all by adding Stills and Cameron, but one more piece would really complete the puzzle.

And not just any piece. One bearing Parker's exact skill set would be the most preferable option.

With Landry, the Dolphins have an undersized receiver who can make defenders miss in the open field and run quick-hitting routes out of the slot. He also has the speed to threaten a defense vertically.

With Stills, they have a medium-sized receiver who can line up on the outside and can also run deep routes.

With Parker, they would have their biggest receiver with the best deep-ball ability, if needing a little polish on his routes.

Wide receivers are a luxury when your quarterback is a dominant, franchise-caliber passer, but although Ryan Tannehill is knocking on that door, he hasn't banged it down just yet. Parker could be the piece that allows him to finally break in and break out.