NFL Mock Draft 2017: SB Nation has Miami back targeting offensive line

Death, taxes, and the Miami Dolphins considering a first-round offensive lineman. They all seem to be about equal in terms of certainty that they will happen. The 2017 NFL Draft is nine days away, and the Dolphins' first-round pick projections continue to have the team targeting an offensive lineman. In this case, it is Western Kentucky guard Forrest Lamp.

In last Saturday's The Phinsider Mock Draft Database, nearly 30 percent of the mock draft projections have Miami selecting Lamp, with defensive end Taco Charlton the second most projected player at 15 percent. Position wise, the defensive end projection still out paces guards 38 percent to 34 percent, but the idea of the Dolphins selecting an offensive lineman is a common one, and one that could prove to be correct.

Center Mike Pounce, 2011 first-round pick (15th overall).

Right tackle Ja'Wuan James, 2014 first-round pick (19th overall).

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, 2016 first-round pick (13th overall).

Guard Forrest Lamp, 2017 first-round pick (22nd overall)?

In his latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft, SB Nation's Dan Kadar is included in the group that has Miami adding Lamp in the first round. He has Miami passing on linebackers Zach Cunningham, Jarrad Davis, and T.J. Watt and cornerbacks Gareon Conley, Tre'Davious White, Marlon Humphrey, and Kevin King, all of who are selected in picks 23 through 32. That is not to say any of those players would be better picks for the Dolphins, or that Lamp is the wrong pick, bot those are all players who also fill a need for Miami, so they should at least be in the discussion for that 22nd overall pick.

Kadar explains the Dolphins' selection of Lamp, writing, "If you're looking for a low ceiling/high floor player, Lamp might be the safest player in the entire draft. The Dolphins can put him anywhere on the offensive line."

The Dolphins do need to find an offensive lineman, but they could choose to look for that lineman in the competition for the left guard starting position between Anthony Steen, Kraig Urbik, and Ted Larsen. They could look to take an offensive lineman later in the Draft. Or, they could do like Kadar says and select Lamp, giving them the presumed opening

Would you be satisfied with an offensive lineman (again) for the Dolphins in the first round?