• In a draft with seven or eight well-regarded quarterback prospects and a big drop-off after them, this much has become clear: If you assume Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton will be long gone, and if the Dolphins do not take a quarterback such as Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett at No. 15, then their chance of landing anyone in this draft who can eventually challenge Chad Henne diminishes dramatically unless they trade for a pick late in the first or early in the second round, perhaps by moving down from 15. Of the top eight quarterbacks, only Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi might be available when Miami next picks at 79, according to most projections. NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi is “convinced” Mallett will go in Round 1, between 1 and 20. Mallett, Washington’s Jake Locker (the only one Miami didn’t work out), TCU’s Andy Dalton, FSU’s Christian Ponder and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick might all be gone by the late 30s or sooner. Who is best in that tier after Newton/Gabbert/Mallett/Locker? Mel Kiper Jr. says Dalton; Mike Mayock says Dalton and Ponder are even. But ESPN’s Todd McShay and analysts Russ Lande (Sporting News) and Tony Pauline (Sports Illustrated) say Kaepernick has the most upside. “Even though Ponder is too fragile, he’s more NFL ready than Kaepernick, and maybe the Dolphins feel they would get earlier returns from him,” Pauline said. “But Kaepernick might be a better player in two or three years.” The Dolphins have met three times with Kaepernick — though Jeff Ireland didn’t attend his private workout — and like the skill set. (He’s the only Division 1 player to achieve the career combo of 10,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards.) “He has the size, speed and strong arm, but he doesn’t have the sound fundamental mechanics you want coming into the league,” Kiper said. “There’s so much work that has to be done with the young man,’’ Mayock said. The Dolphins are intrigued by Dalton — enough to arrange a second private meeting on short notice. Peter King’s mock draft has Miami picking Dalton at No. 15 — earlier than most predict. “He’s only 6-2 with a three-quarters delivery,” Kiper said. “He’s had some passes batted down. But he’s smart, a winner, accurate, can throw on the run. He has a chance to be as good as any quarterback in this draft.” Though some say he would be best in a West Coast-style offense, ESPN’s Jon Gruden said: “Dalton can play in any offense. I’ve seen him be an accurate passer down the field.” Gruden called Ponder “a great leader” and an “accurate intermediate passer” but “you’d like to see a little more arm strength.” Kiper, noting his completion percentage “went way down” on third downs, said: “I would think somebody takes Ponder and hopes he can be like Chad Pennington.” As for Stanzi, Kiper said he’s the “best value” and a likely fourth-rounder: “Good pocket passer. He’s going to be a starter — give him three years.” Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/...i-dolphins-likely-wont-get.html#ixzz1K4LeWo00
