Dolphins face difficult draft decision at defensive back
No position on the Miami Dolphins’ roster will return more starters than defensive backs. All five players who ended the season as starters — cornerbacks Cordrea Tankersley and Xavien Howard, nickelback Bobby McCain, and safeties Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald — are back.
And cornerback Tony Lippett, who started 13 games in 2016 while recording a team-best four interceptions, also returns after missing last season with an Achilles injury.
Miami’s pursuit of secondary help in the first three rounds of the NFL draft (April 26-28) will be a referendum on what the Dolphins think of their talent, especially the young cornerbacks. From the fourth round on it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Miami select a defensive back.
But here’s the thing to consider: cornerback is considered a position where you can never have too much talent, so there’s an outside chance Miami would select someone such as cornerbacks Denzel Ward (Ohio State) or Josh Jackson (Iowa) with the No. 11 pick of the draft.
After all, neither Howard nor Tankersley nor Lippett can be viewed as a so-called “shutdown corner” at this point in their careers.
Or perhaps the Dolphins decide to select safety Derwin James (Florida State) and turn him or McDonald into a hybrid defender, a combination linebacker/ safety.
Coach Adam Gase said during the NFL Annual Meeting that the season didn’t go as well as planned at safety, where Jones and McDonald, a pair of strong safeties, alternated between free safety and strong safety duties.
There’s a lot to digest when considering whether Miami should draft a defensive back in the first three rounds.
The Dolphins need more immediate startingcaliber help at positions such as linebacker, defensive tackle and tight end. And if you consider backup quarterback a priority it becomes even tougher to see the Dolphins selecting a defensive back in the first three rounds.
One concern about James, regarded as an excellent prospect by all measures, is he projects as a strong safety in the NFL, so his addition might keep the Dolphins in the same position as far as difficulties at free safety.
Among cornerbacks, Tankersley, the 2017 thirdround pick, Howard, the 2016 second-round pick, McCain and Lippett, both 2015 fifth-round picks, the Dolphins have youth on their side.
Howard had a team-best four interceptions last year and McCain had two, so there’s a bit of promise there regarding play-making ability.
Among the other members of the secondary there’s cornerbacks Torry McTyer, Walt Aikens, and Jordan Lucas and safeties Maurice Smith and Trae Elston. Miami could stand a couple of upgrades among that group.
But that doesn’t necessitate an early round pick.
If the Dolphins choose to go with James in the first round it might be because they want to create a hybrid safety/linebacker position with either James or McDonald.
If the Dolphins select a cornerback in the first round, or early rounds, it’s likely because they’re looking for a starter as opposed to seeking training camp competition. That might sound harsh considering the starting-caliber talent that returns but Miami’s cornerbacks haven’t yet showed they’re top-tier players, so a number of options are likely being considered.