Sunday after the draft, our presents are unwrapped, and we've had enough time to watch youtube highlights on players known or unknown. Overall, I am pretty pleased but I wanted to break down pick by pick my feelings on the fit. Round 1 Pick 14: DeVante Parker WR: Well, we knew the interest was real through the draft process for the local boy. Watching the first round my stomach was in knots after White was scooped by Chi. I thought there as no way he was getting by Min/Cle/NO without us making a move. I was happy we didn't and even more elated his didn't get scooped. He is a 6'3" long armed target and a WR we haven't had from an aerial standpoint since Marshall. We also didn't have Tannehill throwing him the ball. I really think this pick along with the unit and the FO job to shed the salary and under performing players from last year was an outstanding job. I predict Parker to have anywhere from 700 - 900 yards and around 6 to 7 TD's. I think he will be worked along but with us going five deep at WR I think they will rotate much more. With a healthy foot he will evolve into #1 WR. Grade: A (if we moved up would've dropped a bit) Round 2 Pick 52: Jordan Phillips DT: This was a player many wanted us to select before we signed Suh, me being one of them. At first I was perplexed by the decision (also was reading the news while watching Avengers, hard to focus) but after sitting back and letting it marinate I do believe this to be an outstanding pick. Think of when the Lions got Fairley after they had Suh, same type of principal. Phillips is only 20 and probably won't start right away but he is an athletic freak and huge. Suh and Wake's work ethic should translate well on the rookie. I thought the pieces were falling to select Kendricks but when he and McKinney were picked right before I thought trade was very smart. Risky not to take a OG this early and I thought either Marpet or Fisher would've been good picks but think Phillips has potential to develop into top level DT. Grade: B+ Round 4 Pick 114: Jamil Douglas OG: Don't know too much about him besides what I have read. Seems like he was OG who moved to OT last year but projects as a better OG. Athletic guy who is more lean than he is bulky which is good. His versatility will be welcome for our team and he should be able to push D. Thomas at LG, still not sold that this is a fix but I do like the pick. My only confusion comes from having four 5th round picks and not trading back into the 3rd or 4th round, but after seeing our haul in the 5th I am not as confused as I was. Grade: B (waiting until 4th worries me but player and value seem good and has + potential) Round 5 Pick 145: Bobby McCain CB: There is our prototypical Dolphins CB. Smaller, quick, athletic and feisty. We seem to liker fighters at CB and I have no problem with that. Just need to keep up with the times and realize the WR are become box out specialist and power forwards more than quick scat WR's. From what I've seen the guy has an ability to create turnovers and score points which I like a lot. Funny the beat reporters and experts expect Rookie McCain to push Vet McCain for nickel duties (that is going to get confusing). Think the value was strong and he could develop quite nicely. Grade: B+ Round 5 Pick 149: Jay Ajayi RB: I heard the rumors of knee problems but never thought he'd fall past the 3rd at latest. Getting him in the 5th is outrageous and I believe the knee issues to be overblown. He was used a ton at Boise but that is ok as we have a lead back in Lamar Miller in place. Ajayi offers a perfect inside the tackles runner and complement to Miller. He can catch and seems to be able to block could improve though. He is 6' 220lbs and a hard nosed runner who put up a state line of 347 carries, 1823 yards, 28 TD's, and 5.3 ypc. Oh, and he caught 50 for 535 yards and 4 TD's. To find that type of player in round 5 is insane. While some say he may be a one contract back well the same was said about Lacy in GB and RB's shelf life aren't long to begin with. To be able to get 4-5 quality years from a 5th round pick is an easy trade off. Grade: A+ Round 5 Pick 150: Cedric Thompson S: Looking for Delmas heir apparent is smart and Thompson could be a good develop nicely. He has some good measurable and had a good combine. He also has good size and isn't afraid in the run game. The biggest knock I've seen is that he is a little slow to read and react but with him being able to learn under Delmas that is OK. He has very good speed to play FS and good hips, two big things we need at the position. Grade: B Round 5 Pick 156: Tony Lippett WR/CB: When I first read this I was like another WR??? Bye bye Rishad. Then I read they want him at CB, where he played towards end of the year. He was CB first at MSU then to WR then played back at CB a little. 4 PD on 9 attempts which is small but encouraging sample size. His size is something we lack at CB and it shows that Mr. T and Hickey are not oblivious to the big WR's we will face on a year to year basis. Looking for him in the mold of Richard Sherman where his length and understanding for WR concepts should give him a leg up. While it is a project and who knows that can happen the fact the kid is eager to play CB and is willing to do whatever it takes make me believe this could work. Grade: A- UDFA to Watch: Mike Hull ILB - 3rd team All-American from LB U (Penn St.) nothing flashy but with no ILB drafted don't be surprised to see Hull make team Jeff Luc ILB/FB - can play both positions and gives him leg up. Thumper at ILB but stiffness hurts pass coverage yet solid player Zach Vigil LB - another LB who had 20.5 TFL and 9 Sacks. Struggles against blockers but could be depth at SLB Matt Darr P - Brandon Fields was terrible yesterday, even if Darr gets close enough he could be the guy in 2015, with Fields $$$ high Andrew Franks K - the 3rd kicker being brought to camp. Good Sturgis is a squid and needs competition Ray Drew DE - #9 recruit coming out of HS, played out of position and heavier in college. Lost 15lbs leading to draft, with Jordan out we need DE Ellis McCarthy DT/NT - another monster at DT. 335lbs 6'5". Needs leadership but has skill set Overall Grade: A- Best Pick: DeVante Parker - top BPA fell to #14 at a position where we needed his skill set. Local kid with a good head on his shoulders which we need. Questionable Pick: Not addressing OG until round 4 Steal of Draft: Jay Ajayi - was a top 5 back up until a week before the draft. He fits what we have lacked in our backfield, very good compliment to Miller. Most Potential: Jordan Phillips - IMO he has the highest ceiling cause you can't teach his size and athleticism. You can teach him technique, work ethic, and football IQ. He will share a position with the best in the game and on a DLine that should be Top 10 if not Top 5 this year. Position Neglected: Surprised that ILB was not addressed in the draft. After missing out on Kendricks it felt like the FO were not in love with any other ILB's. Not a bad decision because I ranked Kendricks > Anthony > McKinney as three ILB prospects who would complete our unit. I like Perryman but he may not be 3 down LB. I'd much rather have Phillips with his potential than a 2 down ILB. Biggest Year 1 Impact: Parker/Ajayi - I expect both to be large parts in the offense. Both are pro ready and offer a skill set at a position we lack. Large body RZ WR, and a inside the tackles power back who can play on 3rd down. My Final Thoughts: This was a very important draft as is every one for this franchise. But this year more so as I think if we do not make playoffs and with Tannebaum in place Philbin is donezo. Personally, I just want to win and if that means we win and Philbin stays on board so be it. I am sick of not making playoffs and there is no excuse not to this year. The schedule is favorable and we have some a few Elite players and more than a few Pro Bowl players. What I've seen the past two years from Hickey has been impressive. He gets his guy and isn't too desperate no matter the situation. Getting James and Landry last yera who made year one impact was nice. What we need is for Billy Turner to turn into starter at OG and be a force to be dealt with. From there I'd like to see another step up in year 2 my hopes are: Aikens, Tripp, or Fede who have the best chance at their position to make impact. To walk away from a draft with 2-3 legit starters and 1 or 2 more contributors would be ideal. This year I look at the draft as not to just impact this year but for future years depending on staff. I see on the defensive side of the ball we got players who could be scheme diverse 4-3 or 3-4 like Phillips on DL. We got our weapon on Offense in Parker and our bell cow in Ajayi late in the draft. I look at the draft which is a day old and I see a potential of 4 starters in year one and possibly 5 to 6 in coming years. I expect Parker to be starter by end of the year as well as Phillips as Earl Mitchell can't offer what he can. Douglas doesn't have to beat out anyone too tough in front of him in D. Thomas but you never know if staff trust rookies. I think McCain could also end up starting by end of the year as in the nickel. Ajayi may not start but I expect 500+ yards 6+ TD's in year one. The only two positions I worry about are ILB and Outside CB. Misi looks to be starter in his second year in the middle. The staff has stated their preference for him at SLB. Afer top ILB's came off the board I think FO made right call to address other needs and let Misi get a chance in year 2. The biggest factor could be can Jordan Tripp/Kelvin Sheppard or the UDFA show enough at ILB to move Misi outside. If it is me I leave Misi in the middle and start McCain at SLB. That unit is more than adequate for 2015 playing behind our DL. 2015 Way Too Early Projected Depth Chart: QB - Tannehill - Moore - Freeman RB - Miller - Williams - Ajayi - James WR - Jennings - Parker WR - Stills - Matthews WR - Landry - Hazel TE - Cameron - Sims - Lynch - Robinson/Stonebrunner LT - Albert - Fox LG - Thomas - Douglas C - Pouncey - Brenner RG - Turner - Linkenbach RT - James - Fox DE - Wake - Shelby DT - Suh - Phillips - Francis DT - Mitchell - Johnson - McCarthy DE - Vernon - Fede WLB - Jenkins - Paysinger - Hull ILB - Misi - Sheppard - Tripp - Luc SLB - McCain - Vigil CB - Grimes - Davis - Lippett CB - Taylor - Bowman Nickel - McCain - McCain - Thomas FS - Delmas - Thomas/Aikens SS - Jones - Kovacs - Thompson K - Sturgis - Hocker/Franks P - Fields - Darr KR - Landry PR - Landry
Lol, thanks BPK. What are your thoughts on the draft. And let's see: QB - Tannehill; Moore RB - Miller; Ajayi; Williams; James (due to KR ability) WR - Jennings; Parker WR - Stills; Matthews Slot - Landry TE - Cameron; Sims; Lynch LT - Albert; Fox (swing) LG - Douglas; Thomas C - Pouncey; Brenner RG - Turner; Linkenbach RT - James; Fox K - Hockey (yup, 0 faith in Sturgis) P - Fields (think competition will push him) DE - Wake; Shelby DT - Suh; Phillips; Francis DT - Mitchell; Johnson DE - Vernon; Fede; Drew WLB - Jenkins; Paysinger MLB - Misi; Tripp; Hull SLB - McCain; Vigil CB - Grimes; Lippett CB - Taylor; Bowman Nickel - McCain; McCain FS - Delmas; Aikens; Thomas SS - Jones; Thompson
