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Dan Kadar is up this week for Mocking the Draft's weekly 2014 NFL Mock Draft publication. Kadar hedged his bets this week, using free agency to give him a guide to where each team could be looking come May, as well as providing some options other than his pick for each club.
No one in the top five is a surprise, with the Houston Texans selecting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, followed by the St. Louis Rams grabbing tackle Greg Robinson, the Jacksonville Jaguars adding defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the Cleveland Browns bringing in quarterback Blake Bortles, and the Oakland Raiders picking tackle Jake Matthews. Perhaps Johnny Manziel not going to either the Browns or Raiders is a little unusual (he falls to the Minnesota Vikings in the eighth position), but none of the picks jump out as shocking.
Dropping to the Miami Dolphins' pick at the 19th position, Kadar has Miami taking UCLA guard Xavier Su'a-Filo. Of the pick, Kadar writes:The Dolphins wisely added left tackle Branden Albert in free agency, but that's just one of several offensive line pieces that needs to be added. This pick is too early for one of the many right tackles in this year's draft. It is, however, a good spot for Su'a-Filo, the draft's top guard. Put him next to Albert and suddenly the Dolphins are set on one side.
He also lists, as options for Miami, guard Gabe Jackson, tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, and defensive tackle Louis Nix III.
I can't really argue with Kadar at this point, and Su'a-Filo would be a great addition to a rebuilding offensive line. I would prefer to select someone like linebacker C.J. Mosley, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, or safety Calvin Pryor, who make up three of the four picks after Miami's selection, but with the money given to Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler last year and the signing of Cortland Finnergan and Louis Delmas this year, there's not a glaring need at any of those positions like there is along the offensive line.
As for the options Kadar lists, I doubt the Dolphins take a look at Kouandjio, given his medical red flags that were raised at the Scouting Combine. Nix would be a great addition, but with Randy Starks returning and the signing of Earl Mitchell, a first round pick on a defensive tackle may be too much of a luxury - although the Dolphins could be looking forward to Jared Odrick being a free agent after this season, and Starks being headed for free agency again in two year. Jackson is a decent selection, but Su'a-Filo is probably the bettwe prospect.
What are your thoughts on this #MockMonday post from Mocking the Draft?