Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Needs aplenty ahead of draft
Dolphins have opportunity to address weaknesses, lay solid foundation
The rebuilding Miami Dolphins, under the leadership of first-year coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier, will continue their 2019 draft preparation during the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis.
The Dolphins have a number of positional needs — quarterback, defensive line, offensive line, wide receiver and defensive back — to address heading into the draft, which will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn.
Miami, which has one pick in each of the draft’s seven rounds, holds the No. 13 pick in the first round and the 48th selection in the second. They also have the No. 78 pick in the third round, No. 116 in the fourth, No. 151 in the fifth, No. 188 in the sixth and No. 234 in the seventh.
Here are several players Dolphins fans should keep an
eye on during the NFL combine.
QB Kyler Murray: The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is considered one of the top two available quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Murray may not throw during the combine, but his height and weight and how he performs in position drills and interviews could further his rise in the first round — especially since he gave up a baseball deal with the Oakland Athletics to pursue football on a full-time basis.
While Murray and the Dolphins have been linked in several mock drafts, he may not be available when Miami makes its pick. Still, the Dolphins should do extensive research on Murray, a potential franchise-altering player.
QB Will Grier: If the Dolphins plan on taking a quarterback in the later rounds of the draft, Grier (Florida/West Virginia) could be a viable option. He is considered a later-round pick compared to other quarterbacks in the field such as Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock and Daniel Jones.
Grier skill set could be intriguing for new Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea, quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski as Miami searches for its next franchise quarterback. DT Christian Wilkins, DT Dexter Lawrence and DE Clelin Ferrell: One of the players among this Clemson trio could very well be selected by the Dolphins with the No. 13 pick. Miami has dire defensive line needs, particularly up the middle, where Wilkins (a senior with 16 career sacks) and Lawrence (a junior with 10 sacks and tremendous upside) could anchor Flores’ new defense. Ferrell, a senior with 27 career sacks in a 4-3 scheme, is also a standout.
They briefly played at Clemson under new Dolphins defensive line coach Marion Hobby, who could provide unique insight on all three players.
DT Ed Oliver: The standout Houston defensive tackle may be considered slightly undersized, although he’s listed as 6-foot-3, but he has the versatility to play defensive end or tackle in a hybrid scheme. Though not as strong, Oliver is often compared to Los Angeles Rams standout tackle Aaron Donald because of his style of play. Still, he commands double-teams because of his explosiveness.
Oliver may not be available for Miami at No. 13, but if he is the Dolphins brass should strongly consider building their defense around him.
OT Jawaan Taylor: The Florida offensive lineman is considered one of the best right tackles in the draft, but he reportedly has a hamstring injury that will prevent him from participating in drills during the combine. Still, the Dolphins should take a deeper dive into Taylor, who could be a viable replacement if Miami decides to not resign free agent right tackle Ja’Wuan James.
Taylor is projected as a firstround pick but could be selected before the Dolphins make their pick. Other offensive tackles of note are Alabama’s Jonah Williams and Ohio State’s Isaiah Prince.
DB Jaquan Johnson: The Miami native, who starred at UM, could be an ideal fit in Flores’ defense, which could feature multiple nickel and dime packages that require five or six defensive backs on the field on certain plays. The Dolphins may be stacked at safety with veterans Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald and second-year safety/cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, but Johnson could fill the roles of Jones/McDonald in the future as a hard-hitting safety closer to the line of scrimmage. Johnson is considered a midround pick in the draft.
DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson:
The Florida standout played as a nickel defensive back in college but is versatile enough to also play safety and boundary cornerback at the next level. As the Dolphins search for versatile players to fit in Flores’ multiple defensive schemes, Gardner-Johnson could be a viable option for Miami’s secondary. He is considered a midround pick.
CB Trayvon Mullen: The Dolphins are in need of a starting boundary cornerback who could either play with or replace Pro Bowler Xavien Howard. Mullen, a former Clemson and Coconut Creek High standout, was named defensive MVP in the national championship game against Alabama, racking up six tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in the win. He is likely a second-day pick with the upside of being a cover corner in the NFL.
The best corner among draft prospects may be Georgia’s DeAndre Baker, a likely first-rounder who attended Miami Northwestern High.
WR Parris Campbell: If there’s one player who stands out while reviewing film of Haskins, it’s Campbell, who could be an early player off the board on Day 2 of the draft. Campbell has elusive, breakaway speed that could intrigue the Dolphins, who are in need of a standout No. 1 receiver. Campbell is 6 feet, 208 pounds and played receiver and running back for the Buckeyes as a key offensive weapon.
Other Day 2 receivers the Dolphins should covet are South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel and Georgia’s Riley Ridley.
RB Dexter Williams: The Orlando and Notre Dame product received some attention for his performance during the Senior Bowl, and a strong combine performance could get him taken during the second day of the draft. Williams posted 995 yards with 12 touchdowns during his senior year, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in his first season as a starter. Behind Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage, Williams could be an intriguing addition to the Dolphins offense. Others Miami should consider: Stanford’s Bryce Love and FAU’s Devin Singletary.
DE Brian Burns: The Florida State and Plantation American Heritage product is intriguing because of his size (6-5) and could be an Xfactor in a hybrid defensive scheme Flores wants to run. Burns has the ability to disrupt as a pass rusher but is agile enough to pick up coverage on a tight end if he were to line up as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Burns needs to get stronger to improve his 235-pound frame. Some NFL scouts believe Burns has first-round talent, but he could be a Day 2 selection with a standout performance at the combine.
OL Chris Lindstrom: The Dolphins also have a dire need for interior offensive linemen, and Lindstrom could be a strong candidate for an early pick to bolster the unit. Lindstrom is considered a Day 2 selection and could develop into a viable starter at the next level with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl.
He blocked for Boston College’s dynamic duo of quarterback Anthony Brown and running back A.J. Dillion, starting 36 of 38 career games. Lindstrom was a part of an offensive line that gave up just 13 sacks last season.