NFL Draft 2011: The Miami Dolphins and Mark Ingram Do Not Belong Together

Everyone has the Miami Dolphins taking Alabama RB Mark Ingram in the first round of their mock drafts. On the surface Ingram looks like a good, safe pick, but in reality it isn't as good as many think.

About a month ago, there were people comparing Ingram to Emmitt Smith. I think those parallels were a bit premature, but it nonetheless served to build a groundswell of support amongst Dolphins fans who want him selected first.

The problem I have with taking any running back early in the draft isn't that I think that running back in question won't be great in the NFL. I actually expect Ingram to be a very good back. The problem is that you can always find great backs later on in the draft.

Mark Ingram could very well end up being a star running back in the NFL, but I just think it isn't worth wasting our first pick on a position that they could fill almost as easily with a later round pick.

If running back was Miami's biggest need, then of course, I would be in favor of taking Ingram. But, the problem is that we don't even know what the biggest need is for Miami because of the lockout. Moreover, we aren't sure if we will have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams because both could end up leaving or staying in Miami.

We just don't have enough information yet, and nothing will happen in that regard until free agency starts up.

Everyone is just assuming that Brown and Williams are gone, and I am just not quite sure that will happen. Though Williams may likely be gone, I honestly think Brown will end up staying.

So, if the Dolphins drafted Ingram and re-signed Brown, then you would have two backs without breakaway speed. I'm not saying that they are exactly the same running back, because they aren't, but they are both slow and having two slow running backs isn't exactly ideal in the NFL.

What is more important is to get a quarterback or offensive lineman first and then a quick back later on—very few would argue that Miami did not have deficiencies in these areas.  

Really, I want to know what you guys think.

Sure, Ingram is good and will have a potentially great NFL career, but is it worth using our first pick on him when there are other problems to fix?

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think.

Paul Smythe owns and operates his own blog about the Miami Dolphins called Dolphin Shout. It can be found at http://www.dolphinshout.com.