2011 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins Draft Order and Complete 7 Round Predictions
With the 2011 NFL Draft nearly three weeks away, the Miami Dolphins will continue their nationwide tour of collegiate prospects, setting smokescreens and dropping hints as to who they might favor and target come April 28th.
The persisting CBA crisis makes predicting Miami's drafts tricky because many of this team's holes would be better filled via free agency; however, without an agreement, the Dolphins might have to take a cautious approach to the draft, and implement a need over talent strategy.
1st Round, 15th Overall: Mike Pouncey, Guard / Center, Florida
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Assuming neither Blaine Gabbert nor Cam Newton miraculously free fall into the middle of the first round, the Dolphins' first priority will be a trade down. There is a rich abundance of pass rushers slated to be available when Miami picks, and accordingly, there should be a few teams hoping to trade up and grab one.
But, for simplicity's sake, let us imagine Miami does not budge from 15. In that case, their pick will be Florida guard Mike Pouncey. Dating back to my first mock draft in December, I have strayed from the Mark Ingram bandwagon. There are too many quality mid-round and free agent running backs available, and Ingram's knee is cause for some concern.
Pouncey immediately plugs a gaping hole along Miami's offensive line. His 6'4", 310 pound frame fits Miami's size criteria, and his 24 bench press reps at Florida's Pro Day coupled with a 4.64 20 yard shuttle shows a promising mix of strength and agility that would suite the Dolphins very well.
3rd Round, 79th Overall: Kendall Hunter, Running Back, Oklahoma State
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Recent history has repeatedly proven that running back is no longer a "premium position." In other words, excluding elite prospects, quality running backs can be had in the second and third rounds, making teams less likely to address it in the first round.
This is a primary reason why Miami will not use a first round pick on Mark Ingram. Look at some of today's top running backs: Arian Foster (Undrafted), Jamaal Charles (3rd Round), Michael Turner (5th Round), Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd Round), Ahmad Bradshaw (7th Round), Ray Rice (2nd Round), Peyton Hillis (7th Round), and you get the picture.
Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter could be the latest mid-round draft pick to join this list given his incredible production in college. Last season alone he ran for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hunter carried that momentum into the combine where he posted a 4.46 40 time. His 5'7", 200 pound frame might concern some, but based off the recent success of smaller backs (Jones-Drew, Turner, Rice, etc.), it should not prevent the Dolphins from giving him a strong look.
4th Round, 111th Overall: Luke Stocker, Tight End, Tennessee
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While the NFL's most explosive offenses have reaped the benefits of investing in tight ends, the Dolphins have stood pat with Anthony Fasano. In fact, the last time Miami actually had a Pro Bowl tight end was back in 1993 when Keith Jackson earned back to back bids.
Miami essentially acknowledged their need for a tight end when they brought Jeremy Shockey in for a physical earlier this off-season, but his age, durability issues, and erratic character may have scared the staff away. Still, the Dolphins do seem to favor big, multipurpose tight ends.
Tennessee's Luke Stocker seems to fit the bill. He has a massive 6'4", 258 pound frame, and caught 39 passes for the Vols last season. He might not become the next Antonio Gates, but Stocker has soft hands, great strength (27 bench press reps tied for most amongst tight ends at the Combine), and decent speed (ran a 4.70 at his pro day). Stocker actually compares to Anthony Fasano, but he looks more athletic, which could make him an immediate starter at the next level for a team like the Dolphins.
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5th Round, 146th Overall: K.J. Wright, Linebacker, Mississippi State
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Now that the Dolphins have filled three primary needs, they can take an opportunity to address the only area of need on the defensive side of the ball: outside linebacker. Miami will not be looking for a player to provide competition to Koa Misi or Cameron Wake, but instead a developmental project who can also aid on special teams.
Mississippi State's K.J. Wright looks like an NFL linebacker at 6'3", 246 pounds, but failed to utilize his full skill-set in college, racking up just 8 sacks in his three years as a starter. He seems like he has plenty of room to grown (only 20 reps on the bench press), but a 4.75 40 suggests he has ample athleticism to be an NFL contributor.
6th Round, 179th Overall: Nathan Enderle, Quarterback, Idaho
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A while back, Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel reported that the Dolphins have "done extensive research" on Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle. He is a relative unknown amongst this year's crop of Q.B.'s, but watching him play makes it easy to see why Miami would be interested.
Enderle is extremely patient and poised in the pocket, and although he has a funky throwing motion and a tendency to pat the ball before his release, he surveys the entire field before making consistently accurate passes. However, his patience occasionally works counter-productively, and he has limited mobility.
Also, he is constantly reading defenses and calling out audibles before the snap, a la Peyton Manning. He tends to dump passes off in the flats, but usually only after other options are exhausted, which contrasts nicely to Chad Henne's check down obsession.
Enderle might remind some of Chad Pennington due to the aforementioned qualities, as well as the 61.5 completion percentage he posted in 2009. However, Enderle does have decent arm strength. After four years as the Vandals starting quarterback and consistently improving statistics, Enderle could make for a nice sleeper-project in the sixth round.
7th Round, 217th Overall: Aldrick Robinson, Wide Receiver, SMU
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Jeff Ireland has been completely forthcoming with Miami's need for speed. He has acknowledged it publicly on several occasions, but unless the Dolphins trade back out of the first round, their chances of grabbing worthy speed-oriented players is diminished.
Instead, they could look to the back end of the draft for some agile prospects, such as SMU receiver Aldrick Robinson. He ran a blazing 4.45 40 at the Combine, and has the kind of straight ahead speed the Dolphins so desperately need. Robinson is an electric return-man who could immediately compete for return duties, and potentially progress into a speedy complement to Brandon Marshall in the future.
7th Round, 218th Overall: Andrew Jackson, Center, Fresno State
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The 2011 NFL Draft would not be complete without the Miami Dolphins trying to find the next diamond-in-the-rough offensive lineman at the tail end of the draft. They did so in both the 2008 and 2009 Drafts, drafting rotational tackle Andrew Gardener and one-time starter Donald Thomas.
With Joe Berger possibly on his way out of Miami and Richie Incognito likely headed into the starting center role, the Dolphins would benefit from adding another body for depth along the line. Fresno State's Andrew Jackson was an integral part of the line that blocked for Ryan Mathews, and his 6'5", 300 pound frame might allow him to become a formidable player at the next level.
7th Round, 235th Overall: Da'rel Scott, Running Back, Maryland
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We know Miami's biggest need is speed, so what would prevent the team from taking the one of the fastest players in the entire draft with their final pick? Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott made headlines with his 4.36 40 time at the NFL Draft, and that alone might push him up from undrafted free agent into the sixth or seventh round.
He was not much of a producer at Maryland, carrying the ball 122 times for 708 yards and five touchdowns in 2010; however, his 5'11", 211 pound frame makes him an extremely enticing prospect. Despite his measurables, Scott made a living running down the sidelines in college, and if he wants to make it in the NFL, he will have to learn to run right up the gut.
Still, the Dolphins could benefit from holding onto Scott as a developmental project, especially if he can help with the return game.
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