The feedback on the Dolphins’ rookie pickups on defense
So what are the Dolphins getting in their defensive additions the past few days? Some feedback: It’s rare to see a Dolphins draft pick as universally praised as Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Miami’s first-rounder. He should be a long-term starter at defensive tackle, with the ability to play some end in a 3-4 scheme, as well. Listen to what analysts are saying:
ESPN’s Louis Reddick: “Christian Wilkins is fantastic. Who’s going to have more scheme versatility than [Dolphins coach] Brian Flores and who is going to require players to be very smart like Wilkins, who is one of the smartest players in this draft? It’s a perfect marriage.”
NFL Net’s Daniel Jeremiah: “He’s my seventh
overall player in this draft. I did not think he would end up falling [to 13]. He’s dominant on the back side as a run defender. Reminds me a lot of [six-time NFL Pro Bowler] Gerald McCoy.”
ESPN analyst and former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum: “A force on the pass rush and run defense. His 18 tackles for loss or no gain are the second most of any defensive tackle in the draft.”
Former NFL MVP Kurt Warner said Wilkins “is my favorite player in the draft.” ESPN college analyst David Pollack said: “He’s going to be a star.”
The views are pretty polarizing on Dolphins’ fifth-round pick Andrew Van Ginkel, the Wisconsin linebacker who last season had 46 tackles (seven for loss), 4 sacks, two pass breakups and a blocked kick — and ended his college career with a sack of UM’s N’Kosi Perry.
Pro Football Focus’ Andrew Ites noted he had “an elite grade of 90.2 in 2017 and his incredible NFL Combine numbers prove he is an NFL-level athlete. Should get a chance to play early on in Miami.” And Jeremiah marveled that “watching the Purdue game, there was a play in there where he forces a fumble 20 yards down the field!”
But here’s the flip side: Jeremiah said “at the point of attack, he doesn’t like to take on [blockers] — like to spin a lot” and said that must change. And NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein viewed Van Ginkel as a seventh-rounder: “Unimposing 3-4 outside linebacker with decent athletic ability but a concerning lack of aggression as a run blocker and consistency as a pass-rusher.”
Miami views him as a starting outside linebacker candidate in a 3-4. I wonder if Miami will regret not taking Dallas-bound exUM defensive end Joe Jackson instead.
Undrafted linebackers Tre Watson (Maryland) and Terrill Hanks (New Mexico State). The Dolphins swooped in Saturday night to wrest Watson from the Redskins. Watson, a 6-2, 236-pound inside linebacker, last season had 108 tackles, was first-team All-Big 10, averaged more tackles per game than anyone else in the conference (9.6) and had a Big Ten-leading five interceptions but still didn’t get an invitation to the NFL Combine. “He’s a tackling machine, but average athlete,” draft analyst Tony Pauline told me . ...
Hanks, a 6-2, 242-pound Miami LaSalle High product, filled the stat sheet. In four years in college, he had 391 tackles, including 43 for loss, 11 sacks, eight interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven forced fumbles. Speed is a question, but Watson and Hanks have a real chance to stick.
Undrafted defensive ends Jonathan Ledbetter (Georgia) and DeWayne Hendrix (Pittsburgh). Ledbetter has only 4 sacks in four seasons, but Pro Football Focus rated him among the top college linemen against the run. Hendrix, who began his career at Tennessee, had 7 sacks in 28 college games.
Undrafted cornerbacks Montre Hartage (Northwestern), Nik Needham (UTEP) and Tyler Horton (Boise State) and undrafted Villanova safety Rob Rolle: Hartage bears watching; over his college career, he had twice as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns allowed (five), and his passer ratings against were excellent the past three years: 58.8, 62.8 and 68.4.
Needham, according to Pauline, is “a feisty player with a slight chance” to make a 53-man roster as a backup slot corner. Horton is smallish at 5-11 but in college, he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns (one for 85 yards, one for 99) and three fumble recoveries for touchdowns . ... Rolle led the FCS in interceptions with seven in 2016.
CHATTER
Look for Miami to add two or three defensive ends and at least one veteran offensive linemen in free agency after May 8. At the moment, “this may be the worst starting 22 in the National Football League,” former Redskins/Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. His NFL Net colleague, former No. 1 overall pick David Carr, said Josh Rosen is entering “a situation where your team is terrible. They’re bad.”
Rosen didn’t stand a chance at times behind Arizona’s depleted offensive line last season; he was sacked 17 times on occasions when he had less than 2.5 seconds — most in the league. And Rosen was victimized by 22 dropped passes. But “when his receivers were able to find separation from their primary coverage defender, Rosen was sharp, outperforming Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler in Miami last season,” per Pro Football Focus.
Of the nine UM players who turned pro early the past three years, only one (first-rounder David Njoku) went before the third day of the draft. Two (Joe Yearby, Venzell Boulware) went undrafted. UM’s Jackson, picked in the fifth round by Dallas, admitted he went lower than expected, as did Brad Kaaya (sixth), Kendrick Norton (seventh) and others. The lesson for early entrants: Be prepared for a letdown.
Though the Marlins would have been better off signing Adam Jones (.294, 18 RBI after signing for $3 million with Arizona) instead of Curtis Granderson (hitting .188; making $1.75 million), we’re told when the Marlins talked to Jones, he wanted $5 million or more.