Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for Miami Dolphins' Top 3 Picks
Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin must have cooling packs in his back. That's the only way to explain how he's been able to withstand the heat of the hot seat over the past year-and-a-half since the locker-room scandal of Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. Even without the scandal of 2013, his team failed to get into the playoffs or even go over the .500 hump in 2014, as it has failed to do so in each of Philbin's years as the head coach.
The 2015 season brings a new look to the Dolphins by way of a mass salary-cap exodus and a couple of well-timed trades, but another big opportunity is waiting around the corner: the 2015 NFL draft.
The draft has a way of surprising everyone, but Philbin better hope to be pleasantly surprised if he wants to stick around beyond the 2015 season. That being said, he also better be prepared for those moments where he'll be facing an unpleasant surprise. Those scenarios fall into two easily distinguishable categories: best- and worst-case scenarios.
A best-case scenario would be an opportunity to draft a player who wasn't expected to be available. A worst-case scenario would involve being stuck with none of the better options and being forced to reach for a player or taking one who may not necessarily be a perfect fit.
Here's a look at some of the scenarios that could face Philbin and the Dolphins' front office from April 30 to May 2.
Round 1, Pick 14: Best-Case Scenario
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DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Alabama's Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White are virtual locks to be taken in the top 10 of the draft. Thus, the DeVante Parker bandwagon is picking up steam and leaving the station. The 6'3", 209-pound pass-catcher has all the tools the Dolphins need and do not have in a boundary receiver, and he would complete the pass-catching group.
The Dolphins would have their small, shifty slot receiver in Jarvis Landry. They would have their medium-bodied receiver with downfield ability and versatility to line up outside or inside in Kenny Stills. Parker could also move back and forth with Stills, but he would be much more effective on the outside, where he's adept at using his frame to box out defenders and make contested catches.
Not only that, but he has what it takes to win in the red zone; he caught 156 passes in college and 33 touchdowns (21.2 percent). That means that one in every five catches was a touchdown.
The Dolphins need that kind of receiver like a car engine needs oil, and Parker could provide that missing presence on the outside for Ryan Tannehill in what's likely a prove-it year for the fourth-year quarterback.
Round 1, Pick 14: Worst-Case Scenario
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Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
The Miami Dolphins have a dilemma in their defensive backfield. There are too many players to choose from, and not enough of them stand out in a positive way. Brent Grimes is a lock to start on one side; Brice McCain will be the front-runner to man the slot. Jamar Taylor, Will Davis and Walt Aikens will battle for everything else.
But if no one else is available at No. 14, the Dolphins could look to Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones. The 6'1", 199-pound corner is versatile to play anywhere in the secondary, from perimeter corner to the slot to safety, and he will even contribute on special teams. He is one of the best athletes at the position in the draft after finishing in the top five among cornerbacks at the scouting combine in every workout he participated in.
That being said, Jones would be somewhat of a reach in the top half of the first round. Out of four CBSSports.com mock drafters, only two said he would be taken in the first round; NFL.com's Lance Zierlein tabs Jones as a "Round 1 or 2" projection.
The Dolphins may have more pressing needs, but if they want to immediately improve their secondary, Jones would be a good fit.
Round 2, Pick 47: Best-Case Scenario
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Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Given the Dolphins' question marks at the linebacker position right now, their best bet is to find a versatile player who can play any number of spots, depending on who ends up winning which position battles in training camp.
With the build for the traffic of the inside and the athleticism to hold his own out in space, Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney gives the Dolphins the option to field the best pair or trio of linebackers for any situations, to be scheme-flexible and even to make changes depending on who gets injured during the season.
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." If McKinney could reach the potential that Cushing has reached, he would be a steal for the Dolphins in the second round.
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Round 2, Pick 47: Worst-Case Scenario
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Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Is Shaq Thompson, at 6'0" and 238 pounds, really going to play linebacker in the NFL? It depends on how his next team sees his skills best translating to the NFL. For the Dolphins' purposes, it would make the most sense for him to play the outside linebacker spot, but they might be dealing with a repeat of Philip Wheeler, an undersized linebacker who had all he needed to be a solid pass defender but could never overcome how often he was exposed in the running game.
There's the possibility that Thompson could be used as a "chess piece" of sorts, playing a variety of positions depending on the situation. Perhaps his best role may be as a "big nickel" safety playing in the box as essentially a third linebacker; that way, he can use his coverage skills while offering some run support and serving as an occasional blitzer.
Thompson has a lot of physical tools, and in the hands of the right defensive coordinator, he could be a weapon for a defense. With the Dolphins facing considerable long-term questions at both linebacker and safety, there's a good chance he could fit into their plan one way or another.
Round 4, Pick 114: Best-Case Scenario
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Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina
The Dolphins need a running back but not just any running back; they need one who can pound the rock between the tackles and pick up those tough yards in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
That's where South Carolina's Mike Davis comes into play. At 5'9" and 217 pounds, he's a compact guy with enough punch to break through arm tackles. The Dolphins will love his balance and his tendency to lower his head and plow forward for extra yards when he sees tacklers coming.
Davis isn't going to make many defenders miss—he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the combine—but he will find the end zone often enough. From 2013 to 2014, he carried the ball 402 times and had 20 touchdowns.
The Dolphins won't need him to be "the guy" like he was at South Carolina; Lamar Miller showed flashes of being a No. 1 back in 2014, but Miami would be better off covering its bases with an effective dose of thunder to Miller's lightning.
Round 4, Pick 114: Worst-Case Scenario
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Mark Glowinski, G, West Virginia
Unless the Dolphins want to be starting Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner or possibly both at guard next season, they will need to find someone else to play on the inside of the line.
West Virginia's Mark Glowinski has some holes in his game; the 6'4", 307-pound lineman has trouble maintaining pad level and leverage, but he has good feet and packs a lot of punch (as evidenced by his 31 reps on the bench press, among the top five offensive linemen at the scouting combine).
He also may not be considered a perfect fit for the Dolphins' zone-blocking scheme, due to what CBSSports.com's Rob Rang describes as "some tightness in his hips" that is "exposed when blocking moving targets at the second level."
The physical traits are there, and with some time, he can hone the fundamental aspects of his game and become a starting guard in the NFL. However, he may never be a perfect fit for the Dolphins offense.
Unless otherwise noted, all scouting combine information and NFL draft notes provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
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