I wanted to look at where the drafts strengths and weaknesses are to help determine the best way to attack the draft. For example, if a team’s 2 biggest needs are CB and LT and the teams have Millner and Fisher rated the same, the strength of the draft can help determine which way is the best way to attack. In my opinion the CB class is deeper in the 2nd/3rd round area with players like Jamar Taylor, Jonthan Banks and DJ Hayden than OT is with Terron Armstead and Menelik Watson. I would prefer a combination of Fisher/Taylor than Millner/Armstead. These are the positions that I think we most need to address. RB – I feel like the strength of this draft will be in the mid 3rd and 4th rounds, which is where I would expect the Dolphins to draft one (or late). With backs like LeVeon Bell, Christine Michael, and Mike Gillislee likely to be available in the 4th round area they don’t represent much of a dropoff from the guys projected to go in the first 2 rounds (Lacy, Bernard). WR – I believe you can find value throughout in this draft. I could see the Dolphins selecting one or two receivers in any round of this draft. TE – I believe Tyler Eifert is hands down the best TE in the draft. I believe the gap between Eifert and the next group (Kelce, McDonald, Ertz, etc.) could make Eifert a good choice in round 1. If not there should be some solid options in the mid round area (2nd thru 4th) and could definitely see us addressing this position in the first 4 rounds. OT – Obviously there a big drop off between the top 3 and the rest of this class. If one of the top 3 were to fall I think they are the smart choice. If they do miss out on one of the elites there are good options available in the 2nd/3rd in Watson, Armstead, Pugh. OG – Warmack and Cooper are head over heels over the rest of the guards, but I couldn’t imagine spending a top 15 pick on a guard, unless the rest of your roster is complete. Guards can be found late in the draft, so I would expect this position to be address in the mid/later rounds (5th-7th) instead of at the top of the draft. DE – I believe the strength of this position is in the 2nd round. With all of the ends having some sort of warts I don’t believe the guys at the top of the draft are any better than the guys you can find in the 2nd and would be of better value. Guys like Carradine, Montgomery and Okafor represent better value in the 2nd than Werner or Ansah in the top of the 1st. CB – Millner is the best in this class and if he fell to us at #12 I would take him, but I wouldn’t trade up to get him. I think this is a pretty deep class. I think the strength of this group is in the 2nd and 3rd round area with a lot of talented guys (Banks, Hayden, Poyer, Taylor, etc.). I don’t think Rhodes/Trufant are much better and wouldn’t be the best use of resources. Rhodes and Trufant are graded higher than the rest, but not much more where you would need to spend a 1st on them when you can get comparable talent later. With the depth of this class you will likely find good players slipping into even the 4th round area. S – Much like CB Vaccaro seems to have secured himself as the #1 safety, but I again don’t think it’s the best use of resources to draft him in the first. This is another deep group with a lot of talent in the mid rounds (Cyprien, Reid, Swearinger, Thomas, Thomas). I would rather have Cyprien in the 2nd than Vaccaro in the 1st. What area I believe is the positions strengths RB – Mid (3/4) WR – All TE – Eifert 1st or Mid (2/3) OT – 1st if elite fell, otherwise Mid (3/4) DE – Mid (2/3) CB – Mid (2/4) S – Mid (2/4) After looking at this I would attack the draft the following way 1st- Elite 3 LT if they fell or Offensive Playmaker 2nd – Secondary and Defensive Line 3rd – OL, WR/TE, Secondary 4th – RB In my opinion grabbing one of the elite offensive playmakers or LTs is the best way to go in the first. While I like Rhodes, Vacarro and other defensive options I think the drop off in talent in the 2nd/3rd round isn’t as big as other positions. Grabbing an elite offensive player and doubling down on some defensive positions in the middle rounds is where the best way I see to attack the draft. I would feel very comfortable coming out of this draft with. 1st – WR/TE (Austin/Eifert) 2nd – DE (Okafor/Carradine) 2nd – CB Jamar Taylor 3rd – OL Terron Armstead 3rd – S Sharmarko Thomas 4th – RB LeVeon Bell
