2011 NFL Mock Draft: The Miami Dolphins "Best Case Scenario" 7 Round Mock
By now, we've all heard the same, recycled Miami Dolphins draft chatter.
Will it be Pouncey or Ingram in the first? Will they reach for Ryan Mallett? How about Jake Locker?
And, by now, many of you know how I project the team's draft to unfold.
So out of fear of redundancy, let's take a look at how Miami's 2011 NFL Draft outlook will change if all of the chips fall in their favor.
1st Round: 15th Overall: Trade Down, Select Mikel Leshoure
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As Draft Day approaches, the everybody seems to be aborting the Mark Ingram bandwagon.
Concerns over his knee have allegedly persuaded some teams to banish him from consideration all together. But the Dolphins still need a running back and they could still benefit greatly from adding extra draft picks.
Enter Mikel Leshoure and a first round trade down. Trading back from 15 would likely allow Miami to pick up an extra third round pick and move into the end of the first round or early portions of the second.
Leshoure is taller, bigger, and faster, than Mark Ingram. In 2010, he ran for almost 1,000 more yards and four more touchdowns, and finished the year with a superior yards per carry average.
Leshoure quitely tore up opposing defenses last season, rushing for 1,697 yards and 17 touchdowns while maintaining a 6.0 yards per carry average.
On paper, he looks like a textbook NFL back and although he may need to shore up some pass protection issues, Leshoure would be a tremendous pickup for Miami in the second round.
3rd Round: Acquired Pick: Edmond Gates, Wide Receiver, Abilene Christian
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Abilene Christian's Edmond Gates hails from the same alma-mater as NFL speedsters Johnny Knox, Bernard Scott and Danieal Manning.
Fittingly, Gates ran a 4.37 at the combine despite re-aggravating a groin injury he suffered during the regular season. It was an impressive display that catapulted his draft stock.
Gates currently projects to fall into the third round, but that price might be a bit steep for a player who dominated inferior competition at the Division II level.
So while he does have huge bust potential, keep in mind that Knox, Scott, and Manning all overcame the learning curve quickly and successfully, setting a favorable precedent for Gates.
3rd Round: 79th Overall: Virgil Green, Tight End, Nevada
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It's safe to assume the Dolphins will have their eyes set on a tight end at some point during the 2011 NFL Draft.
If they stick to their predisposed plan of acquiring speed, then Nevada's Virgil Green should be atop the draft board.
Green is one of the most dynamic players in this year's draft class. He's roughly 6'4", 249 pounds, yet ran a 4.56 40 at the combine and caught 35 passes for Nevada in 2010.
Some might argue for FAU's Robert Housler here, but he played against inferior competition, is not as bulky as Green, and has a one-year wonder label.
Miami has refused to sufficiently address the tight end position for far too long while the league's most explosive offenses have reaped tremendous benefits from investing time, patience, and money into the position.
Green is an athletic specimen who could bring a completely unique dynamic to the 'Fins passing attack.
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4th Round: Pick 111: John Moffitt, Offensive Guard / Center, Wisconsin
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Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano have a crush on Big 10 prospects, and no Dolphins draft class would be complete without one.
If the Dolphins are able to trade down they will likely be out of the running for Mike Pouncey, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot find a starting caliber interior lineman in the draft.
Wisconsin's John Moffitt is massive. Seriously. He's roughly 6'5", 320 pounds, and still clocked a a 4.53 20-yard shuttle at the NFL Combine.
Moffitt was also a team captain for the Badgers and played all three interior positions.
5th Round: Pick 146: K.J. Wright, Outside Linebacker, Mississippi State
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The Dolphins must address their offensive needs before they can turn their attention to the other side of the ball; however, they still must add some depth to the linebacker corps and the special teams.
Mississippi State linebacker 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 eight sacks in his three years as a starter.
He seems like he has plenty of room to grow (only 20 reps on the bench press), but a 4.75 40-yard dash suggests he has ample athleticism to be an NFL contributor.
Potential aside, he could immediately aid an anemic special teams unit and hopefully morph into a rotational linebacker sooner rather than later.
6th Round: Pick 179: Nathan Enderle, Quarterback, Idaho
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A while back, Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel reported that the Dolphins had "done extensive research" on Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle.
He is a relative unknown amongst this year's crop of QB's, but could make for a very nice developmental project.
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 accurate passes.
However, his patience occasionally works counter-productively, and he has limited mobility.
Also, he threw 60 interceptions in four years as the Idaho Vandals starting quarterback. That is an extremely troubling number, but how much was a product of a poor offensive line and how many were a product of his own miscues?
It is tough to say, but shortcomings aside, Enderle was a four-year starter, has solid arm strength, a 6'4", 240-pound build, and statistically improved every year.
Bringing in a fresh arm to training camp would do absolutely no harm- especially in the sixth round. And, perhaps it would ignite some fire from Chad Henne.
7th Round: Pick 217: Aldrick Robinson, Wide Receiver, SMU
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Even if the Dolphins are able to get their hands on a prospect like Edmond Gates early in the 2011 NFL Draft, they could still benefit from adding some extra speed to their training camp roster.
SMU's Aldrick Robinson has 4.43 speed, caught 14 touchdowns in 2010, and projects as a deadly kick returner at the next level.
Although Robinson maturing into a starting or contributing NFL receiver might be a long shot, he has the potential, and his return skills should be enough for the Dolphins to take a late round flier on him.
7th Round: Pick 218: Andre Jackson, Center, Fresno State
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Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano seem to have an uncanny knack for finding quality offensive linemen in the darkest depths of the football world (Joe Berger, Nate Garner, Donald Thomas, Pat McQuistan, others), and Fresno State's Andrew Jackson seems to fit the physical bill for Miami.
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.
Jackson was an integral part of the offensive line that blocked for 2010 first-round pick Ryan Mathews, and his 6'5", 300-pound frame might allow him to become a formidable player at the next level.
7th Round: Pick 235: Da'Rel Scott, Running Back, Maryland
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If Miami's biggest need is speed, 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-yard dash time at the combine, and that alone might bump his stock 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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