We have less than a month until the NFL Draft, and since I have to wait until May instead of late April, I have decided to provide you all with my very first, and probably only, mock draft. This is a blend of what I think the Dolphins will do and what I want them to do. Enjoy!
Round 1 (pick 19): CJ Mosley, MLB, Alabama
Even with the recent report by the Palm Beach Post, a report which tells the tale of a Miami Dolphins front office that is content on fixing the LB situation by moving last year's SLB, Koa Misi, to MLB, I believe the Dolphins will draft Mosley. The report has the looks of a classic smokescreen, just like the rumor that the Dolphins were most interested in LT Eugene Monroe before signing LT Branden Albert. No team reveals their draft plan a few weeks before the draft. But, I digress...
Mosley is a top-10 talent in this draft who may slide to Miami due to injury concerns and the history of Alabama players under Nick Saban. Mosley is an instinctive run-stopper who also has the athleticism to cover sideline-to-sideline. The latter of these traits was greatly missed amongst the Dolphins' LB corps last season when RBs and TEs consistently torched the Dolphins defense due to subpar coverage from the LBs. Mosley fixes this problem and shores up the Dolphins' run defense, which suffered a huge dip in effectiveness last year after the execution of the now-infamous LB swap of the 2013 offseason. Mosley is the only MLB in this draft who provides the Dolphins with improvement in both run-stopping and coverage, which makes him a no-brainer if he is on the board at 19.
Round 2 (pick 50): Joel Bitonio, OT/OG, Nevada
Bitonio's name has been on a steady rise since the end of the college football season. Bitonio was one of the top performers at the combine and witnessed his stock rise considerably soon afterwards. Bitonio, who was viewed as a third day prospect, is now likely to be taken as high as the late first round. Bitonio is one of the most athletic offensive linemen in this draft and he plays two positions that are Dolphins' needs, OT and OG. Bitonio athleticism allows him to fit perfectly into a zone-blocking scheme, which makes him a perfect fit in Miami.
Round 3 (pick 81): CJ Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa
Fiedorowicz is the big, redzone target that the Dolphins need and the fans covet. Fiedorowicz is 6'6" with a huge catch radius, but he is also one of the better blocking TEs in this class, which is a craft that college TEs master less and less these days. Fiedorowicz would likely push Michael Egnew to either become an NFL TE or put in his bust card.
Round 4 (pick 116): Charles Sims, RB, WVU
Charles Sims from WVU is one of my favorite backs in this draft. Sims is elusive runner with the vision to excel in Miami's zone-blocking scheme and the speed and burst score a touchdown anytime he touches the ball. Sims got the nod in my mock draft because he, unlike my other favorite back, Terrance West, has caught over 200 passes in his collegiate career. The Dolphins' RBs will be used extensively in the passing game in new OC Bill Lazor's offensive system, and a RB who can catch passes out of the backfield is essential to the success of the offense.
Round 5 (pick 155): Trai Turner, OG, LSU
Turner ran the fastest 40-yard dash out of any linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine, edging out my second round pick Bitonio by a few hundredths of a second. Turner is boulder of a man who would likely compete for an opening day starting job at RG. Turner is an athletic offensive lineman whose his specialty is run blocking. Turner left school early as a redshirt sophomore and has a lot of upside left to be developed. Turner could be a steal in the fifth round if he eventually becomes a starter.
Round 6 (pick 190): John Brown, WR, Pitt State
Brown is a bit small, didn't play against the greatest competition in college and his name wasn't very popular until he ran a sub-4.4 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. But, the 5'10", 180 pound Brown is a natural playmaker who reminds some of the Indianapolis Colts' WR T.Y. Hilton. Brown also has experience as a returner, bringing five kicks to the house in his time at Pitt State. Brown would provide athleticism, run-after-catch yards and depth to a receiving corps which features three surgically repaired knees. Brown would supply the Dolphins with a good special teams guy who could eventually develop into a contributor or even a weapon if he can withstand the physicality of the NFL.
Round 7 (pick 234): Garrett Scott, OT, Marshall
Scott was Marshall's best offensive lineman and played multiple positions along the line. Scott, one of the more underrated OTs in this draft, is a very good athlete, having participated in three sports in high school (football, basketball and track). Scott would be mainly a depth pick but could find himself in contention to start on a line which currently has only three out of five positions accounted for.
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