Douglas players get to announce picks
DAVIE — Yes, they joked about it.
Members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High football team announced the Dolphins’ Day 3 draft picks Saturday, and there was some joking beforehand about going rogue with any selections they might not approve of.
Just the fact the seniors on the Douglas team could share light moments during their visit to the team’s training facility made the trip a victory in itself. They were invited — at the suggestion of team VP Jason Jenkins, a resident of Parkland — to help the healing after the Feb. 14 shooting at the school that left 17 dead.
Among the fatalities was beloved offensive line coach Aaron Feis, so it was only fitting that Miami’s first selection Saturday, of Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe, was announced on national TV from the team’s practice bubble by Johanna Feis, Aaron’s sister. She was followed by Douglas quarterback Tyler Goodman, who read the selection of Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage.
Center Lucas Taylor acknowledged the chatter about vetoing picks that didn’t meet the players’ approval. “We’ve got a lot of jokesters on our team,” he said. “We do a lot of fun things together. If we do make another pick that the Dolphins don’t like, I was not involved.”
In the end, of course, the players gave the moment the respect it warranted. “This is a serious moment,” Goodman said. “This is guys’ jobs up there, so if we mess up their jobs, we’re kind of trouble for them.”
The day began when the Eagles toured the draft room and met owner Stephen Ross and Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino. “He called us his ‘Best Buds,’ ” Will Pringle, a defensive lineman, said of Marino. “I didn’t expect that. He was making fun of me. Not something you get to do every day.”
Any respite the Eagles get is still very much welcomed.
“We had something terrible that happened at our school and it’s just great that a nationally renowned program like the Dolphins cares about us,” Goodman said. “We’re an hour away. It just makes us feel that there’s people out there that still care about the fact that we lost 17 people.”
It won’t be long before this group of seniors won’t be together every day. Graduation is around the corner.
“There’s no breaking us apart throughout anything,” Taylor said. “We all know we’re one call away from each other.”
Early grades on Fitzpatrick pretty good: Most mock drafts had Minkah Fitzpatrick going much higher than 11th overall, where he fell, to the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick is a potential Pro Bowl safety, a position where Miami already has two highly paid veterans.
Here’s how the Fitzpatrick pick went over with some national media organizations:
NFL.com (Chad Reuter): B
“The Dolphins didn’t go get a top-notch quarterback, instead waiting to see if Ryan Tannehill returns healthy and productive. … I can’t blame them for taking Fitzpatrick, though, as he will push Miami’s defense — not just secondary — to another level.” CBS Sports (Pete Prisco): B+ “They get a Malcolm Jenkins type of player. He can do so many things well, but where does he play?”
Bleacher Report: (Mike Tanier): A
“Fitzpatrick is the best nickelback prospect in NFL history. (Tyrann Mathieu had character concerns and was also used on offense, confusing his draft profile.) He’s exactly the defender teams need to counter the (runpass option) and mix-and-match tactics in the slot, because his ability to attack the backfield will make offenses account for him, rather than vice-versa. He also has excellent play-recognition skills and the quickness to regroup after play-fakes.”
Sports Illustrated (Andy Benoit): B-
“Fitzpatrick is arguably the most versatile defender in this draft, and he’s joining defensive coordinator Matt Burke’s somewhat traditional zone scheme. Will the scheme expand? Burke has made great use of veteran Reshad Jones’ unique blitzing ability. Fitzpatrick must be employed in those packages; he dominated as an edge blitzer in college.” SB Nation (Dan Kadar): A+ “Miami probably never thought Fitzpatrick would be available with the 11th pick. In that regard they got a little lucky. Sometimes that happens in the draft. The Dolphins are another team that needed a playmaker on defense. Fitzpatrick can do a little bit of everything.”
Several college free agents coming aboard: Once the draft ended Saturday, it was time to sign another dozen or so of the best undrafted rookies they could find.
General manager Chris Grier and vice president Mike Tannenbaum spoke with the media shortly after their final pick, then returned to the draft room to start prioritizing who they hope to get in the college free-agent pool.
Names will continue to leak out, and nothing is final until the player passes a medical exam and signs a contract. Here is our running list of who the Dolphins have picked up (names with no source designation have been confirmed independently by The Post):
Buddy Howell, RB, Florida Atlantic, 6-1, 215; David Steinmetz, OT, Purdue, 6-7, 321; Connor Hilland, G, William & Mary, 6-6, 303; Quincy Redmon, DE, Fairmont State, 6-4, 253; Claudy Mathieu, DE, Notre Dame College, 6-6, 250; Jamiyus Pittman, DT, Central Florida, 6-1, 319; Mike McCray, LB, Michigan, 6-1, 243; Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State, 5-9, 180.