2011 Miami Dolphins NFL Draft Needs
The Miami Dolphins are on the clock with the 15th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how they might choose to address those needs on draft day.
1. Running Back: Ronnie Brown will turn 30 this season and Ricky Williams will turn 34 in May and both players are scheduled to hit free agency. While the interior offensive line is an issue as well, fingers still must be pointed at Brown and Williams for the drop off in the run game. I believe it’s time for the Dolphins to go after a back. If they choose to do so in round one, they’ll be looking at taking Alabama’s Mark Ingram. The former Heisman Trophy winner had a knee injury early in 2010 but showed no effects of it last season. He doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but his combination of balance and power is unmatched by any other back in this class. I see a lot of Emmitt Smith in this kid. The Dolphins don’t currently have a second round pick. So if they decide to address the offensive line in the first round, they could still come away with a player like Pittsburgh’s Dion Lewis in the third. He isn’t the NFL-ready back that Ingram is, but the former Big East Offensive Player of the Year shows potential.
2. Offensive Guard: The offensive line is often the backbone of good football teams, which is the reason Miami could choose to address this need first. Running backs have a short shelf life in the NFL and Ingram suffered a knee injury in 2010. If I’m the Dolphins I take Ingram, but I’m also a gambling man. While he looked to be completely recovered from that injury last fall, his knee will still be a concern for some teams, just as Adrian Peterson’s injury history was when he came out. In other words, Florida center/guard Mike Pouncey would appear to be the safer pick. He would also fill a chief need and should be able to impact a team similarly to the way his twin broth, Maurkice, impacted the Steelers last season.
3. Quarterback: Something must be done about the quarterback position in Miami. Chad Henne’s regression has created plenty of doubt about whether he is a long-term solution. He is just 13-14 as a starter with six more interceptions than touchdowns. Unless Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton were to fall miraculously, taking any other signal caller would be a big reach here. Miami could try to trade back and take a player like Washington’s Jake Locker, but that isn’t likely since it has other major needs. A developmental prospect like Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick could still be on the board when the Dolphins pick in round three.
4. Wide Receiver: The Dolphins could stand to improve at free safety and inside linebacker, but the defense was the sixth-best unit in the NFL last year. The offense ranked 21st, which means it is a bigger need right now. The wide receiver trio of Brandon Marshall, Davon Bess and Brian Hartline was solid but Jeff Ireland wants to add more speed at this spot. Edmond Gates will be an option in the third round because of his legitimate vertical speed.
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