NFL.com: Dolphins rank 10th in draft
It’s hard to land top talent in the NFL draft without many high picks, but NFL.com’s ratings suggest the Dolphins pulled it off.
Using its ranking of the best college players available, the site assigned a point value to each of the top 150 prospects. Miami got 402 points, landing 10th in the league. Here are the top 10: 1. Browns 2. Saints 3. Jets 4. Redskins 5. Ravens 6t. Jaguars 6t. Chargers 8. Seahawks 9. Packers 10. Dolphins The best pick for Miami — according to its ranking — was LSU defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who NFL.com had as the 58th-best player. The Dolphins landed him in the fifth round at No. 178 overall. That was 14 picks after they took Utah guard Isaac Asiata, NFL.com’s No. 84 prospect.
Here are the five picks that scored points for Miami:
■ DE Charles Harris, No. 17 prospect — Dolphins got him at No. 22
■ DT Davon Godchaux, No. 58 prospect — Dolphins got him at No. 178
■ LB Raekwon McMillan, No. 73 prospect — Dolphins got him at No. 54
■ G/C Isaac Asiata, No. 84 prospect — Dolphins got him at No. 164
■ CB Cordrea Tankersley, No. 121 prospect — Dolphins got him at No. 97
Vegas doesn’t think much of Fins’ chances: According to one Las Vegas sports book, the Dolphins are projected to win only 7.5 games in 2017.
If Miami was to finish 7-9 or 8-8, that would certainly be disappointing to coach Adam Gase, who led his team to a 10-6 record and the playoffs in 2016.
According to Southpoint Casino, the AFC teams with the highest projected wins totals are:
New England (11.5 projected wins), Pittsburgh (10.5), Oakland (9.5), Baltimore (9.5), Tennessee (9), Kansas City (9), Indianapolis (9), Cincinnati (8.5), Denver (8.5), Houston (8.5)
According to Southpoint Casino, the AFC teams with the lowest projected win totals are:
Cleveland (4.5 wins), New York (5.5), Jacksonville (6), Buffalo (6), Miami (7.5), Los Angeles (7.5)
The Dolphins exceeded all expectations last season and oddsmakers think 1) Miami’s schedule is even more difficult; 2) The Dolphins aren’t sneaking up on anybody; and 3) The laws of averages will come into play as the Dolphins were actually outscored last season and crushed defensively on the ground.
Miami is banking on continued success due to 1) A change in confidence and culture in the program; 2) The addition of key free agents such as linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas; and 3) the drafting of defensive end Harris, linebacker McMillan and cornerback Tankersley.
Gase will surely note the doubt from Vegas oddsmakers when the team reports to minicamp.
Rookie minicamp set for this weekend: Harris and the rest of the Dolphins’ draft class are expected to be in town for this weekend’s rookie minicamp, but just like last year, they won’t be here to practice.
Gase is sticking to the same plan as his rookie year, when he brought in the newcomers for a couple of days but made it all about teaching in meeting rooms.
Last year, the Dolphins had team nutritionist Mary Ellen Bingham address players. Director of player engagement Kaleb Thornhill did, too. Financial advice and sports science also were part of the program.
Players also heard from Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor.
Although there won’t be practices, some members of the rookie class will meet with the media, so we’ll soon have a better idea of how they’re dealing with the transition.
Gase and his top assistants — Darren Rizzi, Clyde Christensen and Matt Burke — will address reporters.