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2013 NFL Draft: A look back at the Miami Dolphins past drafts

The 2013 NFL Draft starts later tonight. Here's a look back at the last five drafts for the Miami Dolphins.

By Kevin Nogle
Chris Trotman

2012 NFL Draft:

Round Selection Player Position College
1 8 Ryan Tannehill Quarterback Texas A&M
2 42 Jonathan Martin Offensive Tackle Stanford
3 72 Olivier Vernon Defensive End Miami (FL)
3 78 Michael Egnew Tight End Missouri
4 103 Lamar Miller Running Back Miami (FL)
5 155 Josh Kaddu Linebacker Oregon
6 183 B.J. Cunningham Wide Receiver Michigan State
7 215 Kheeston Randall Defensive Tackle Texas
7 227 Rishard Matthews Wide Receiver Nevada

Headlined by the Miami Dolphins' first, first-round quarterback since Dan Marino in 1983, the 2012 Draft seems to signal a change for the Dolphins. With a new head coach and the eighth overall selection of Tannehill, Miami finally seems ready to come out of the cloud of mediocrity that has surrounded the team over the past decade plus. Tannehill became the first Dolphins quarterback to start Week 1 of the season, to start all 16 games in the season, and set most of the team's rookie passing records.

Second round pick Jonathan Martin started Week 1 at right tackle, eventually shifting to left tackle when Jake Long was injured. He struggled at times, but also showed promise as well. Third round selection, defensive end Olivier Vernon, showed flashes of pass rushing ability during the year, but clearly broke down near the end of the season, hitting the "rookie wall." Fellow third rounder, tight end Michael Egnew, struggled to get playing time, eventually working his way onto the field due to injuries.

Lamar Miller, Josh Kaddu, Kheeston Randall, and Rishard Matthews round out the players still with the Dolphins. Miller should serve as the team's starting running back in 2013, with Kaddu, Randall, and Matthews all looking to increase their playing time. B.J. Cunningham was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to their practice squad.

2011 NFL Draft:

Round Selection Player Position College
1 15 Mike Pouncey Center Florida
2 62 Daniel Thomas Running Back Kansas State
4 111 Edmond Gates Wide Receiver Abilene Christian
6 174 Charles Clay H-Back Tulsa
7 231 Frank Kearse Defensive Tackle Alabama A&M
7 235 Jimmy Wilson Cornerback Montana

Miami "reached" for the "lesser" Pouncey twin, a player who was not going to be able to play as a center at the NFL level. Two years later, Pouncey is considered one of the top centers in the league, and the Dolphins seem set at the position for years.

Thomas has had limited success at the NFL level. He's been struck by fumbling issues, as well as concussion problems. He served as the primary back up to Reggie Bush each of the last two years, and will likely keep that slot on the depth chart as Miller takes over the starting position.

Gates spent a year with the Dolphins, appearing in 15 games, but only making two receptions for 19 yards. He was released by the Dolphins in the 2012 offseason, which allowed him to follow Tony Sparano, Miami's fired head coach who had been hired by the New York Jets as their offensive coordinator, to New York.

Clay and Wilson both have developed well over the two years, with Clay serving as both a fullback and a tight end, while Wilson has played cornerback and safety. Kearse was signed to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad after the 2011 preseason, but has sense played in 14 games, with 9 starts, for them.

More: 2013 Miami Dolphins Draft Prospect Scouting Reports

2010 NFL Draft:

Round Selection Player Position College
1 28 Jared Odrick Defensive End Penn State
2 40 Koa Misi Outside Linebacker Utah
3 73 John Jerry Guard Ole Miss
4 119 A. J. Edds Inside Linebacker Iowa
5 145 Nolan Carroll Cornerback Maryland
5 163 Reshad Jones Free Safety Georgia
7 212 Chris McCoy Outside Linebacker Middle Tennessee
7 252 Austin Spitler Inside Linebacker Ohio State

A solid if unspectacular draft for the Dolphins. The team has seen significant playing time from Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, John Jerry, Nolan Carroll, Reshad Jones, and Austin Spitler. Jones seemed to break out last year and could be developing into a Pro Bowl safety. Jerry, Misi, and Odrick all were starters last year, while Carroll served as the nickel corner to begin the season before moving into the starting lineup because of injure to Richard Marshall.

Edds was expected to be an immediate contributor for the Dolphins in 2010 before an ACL tear ended his season in training camp. The Dolphins then waived him in September 2011. He was claimed by the New England Patriots before being placed on their practice squad. He was then signed off the Patriots practice squad by the Indianapolis Colts, appearing in nine games that year. In the 2012 training camp, Edds again tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve for the year.

McCoy was placed on the Dolphins practice squad at the end of the 2010 training camp, but was eventually released. He briefly signed to the Houston Texans' practice squad in 2010, then spent the 2011 preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After being cut by the Steelers, he played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL before signing a futures contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2013.

NFL Draft Needs: NFC West AFC West NFC North AFC North NFC South AFC South

2009 NFL Draft:

Round Selection Player Position College
1 25 Vontae Davis Cornerback Illinois
2 44 Pat White Quarterback West Virginia
2 61 Sean Smith Cornerback Utah
3 87 Patrick Turner Wide Receiver USC
4 108 Brian Hartline Wide Receiver Ohio State
5 161 John Nalbone Tight End Monmouth
5 165 Chris Clemons Free Safety Clemson
6 181 Andrew Gardner Offensive Tackle Georgia Tech
7 214 J. D. Folsom Inside Linebacker Weber State

Brian Hartline and Chris Clemons are the only two players still with Miami from the draft class, with Hartline serving as the number one receiver for the team last year, while Clemons started at safety.

Davis was traded to the Indianapolis Colts during the 2012 training camp. White was clearly a bust, although he did just sign with the Washington Redskins to get back into the league for the first time since being cut by Miami in the 2010 preseason. Smith started at cornerback last year, but was allowed to leave in free agency this year. Turner was released by the Dolphins after a year, and has found some playing time, and on-again-off-again signings, with the New York Jets since.

Nalbone was never able to hold on to the Dolphins full roster, spending most of the time on the practice squad, only appearing in two games in 2010 before being cut. He has since spent time on the practice squad with six different teams before being claimed off of waivers by the Dallas Cowboys in June 2012. He has not appeared in a game since 2010.

Gardner appeared in one game for the Dolphins in 2009 before he was released and signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad in 2010. He was cut in season and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on their practice squad. He was cut by the Bengals in the 2011 preseason and signed with the Houston Texans, where he has appeared in four games in two years.

Folsom spent most of the 2009 season on Miami's practice squad, but did appear in two games. He spent the 2010 season on the practice squads for the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, the Dolphins, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released by the Buccaneers in July 2011, and has since entered veterinary school at Oklahoma State.

SB Nation Draft Coverage: SB Nation NFL Draft Super Group

2008 NFL Draft:

Round Selection Player Position College
1 1 Jake Long Offensive tackle Michigan
2 32 Phillip Merling Defensive end Clemson
2 57 Chad Henne Quarterback Michigan
3 66 Kendall Langford Defensive end Hampton
4 110 Shawn Murphy Guard Utah State
6 176 Jalen Parmele Running back Toledo
6 195 Donald Thomas Guard Connecticut
6 204 Lex Hilliard Running back Montana
7 245 Lionel Dotson Defensive end Arizona

The 2009 draft has two players remaining on Miami's roster. The 2008 Draft has none. Current head coach Joe Philbin has clearly purged the early Tony Sparano era players, with the last remaining 2008 player, Jake Long, leaving via free agency this year after 4 Pro Bowls in five seasons with Miami.

Merling spent four years with the Dolphins before going to the Green Bay Packers for the a part of the 2012 season. He signed a futures contract with the Washington Redskins in January 2013.

Henne, once thought to be the franchise quarterback to finally solidified the Dolphins' position, is now the backup quarterback to Blaine Gabbert with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Langford spent four years with Miami, recording 7.5 sacks in 64 games played a 3-4 defensive end. He spent last year as a defensive tackle with the St. Louis Rams, starting all 16 games for them.

Son of former Major League Baseball player Dale Murphy, Shawn spent 2008 and part of 2009 with the Dolphins, never appearing in a game. His one NFL appearance came in 2009 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also spent time in 2010 with the Carolina Panthers and 2011 with the Denver Broncos.

Parmele was on the Dolphins' 53 man roster for the start of the 2008 season before being demoted to the practice squad. He was eventually signed off the Miami practice squad by the Baltimore Ravens in December 2008, appearing in one game that year. He would see limited playing time in 2009 with Baltimore, and serving as their primary kick returner in 2010, though he never carried the ball on offense. He was cut in the final round of roster cuts in the 2011 preseason. He was signed by the Jaguars in May 2012, but was placed on injured reserve 11 games into the season.

Thomas played two years for Miami, appearing in one game in 2008, before appearing in all 16, starting 12, at right guard for the Dolphins in 2009. After being cut by the Dolphins prior to the 2010 season, Parmele tried out for several teams being signing with the Detroit Lions, though he was never activated by the team. In 2011 and 2012, Thomas played for the New England Patriots, appearing in 26 games with 8 starts. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts in March 2013.

After spending 2008 on the practice squad, Hilliard played halfback and fullback for the Dolphins from 2009-2011, appearing in all 48 games over that time, starting 4 in 2011. Hilliard split 2012 between the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Dotson appeared in two games in each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons for the Dolphins. He was waived by the team at the end of the 2010 preseason, and was signed by the Denver Broncos to their practice squad. The Dolphins then signed Dotson back off the Broncos practice squad, and he appeared in three more games. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills in 2011, appearing in five games and was waived in the 2012 preseason.

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