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 Well, over the last few weeks I have been breaking down different positions of need for Miami. Today, we'll be discussing the CB position, (maybe the least talented one on this team), and then I'll give my updated full first round mock. I'll be changing my mock probably every day, so stay tuned for that. I will then post my final mock on Saturday morning on the boards. Here is my break down of the CB position though.
One thing is for sure, the CB position is something that needs to be taken care of very early on. The Dolphins need to find a starting corner to opposite Will Allen. Do we have that in Jason Allen? Everybody hopes so, but you can't be sure. Green is not the answer. It will be interesting to see whether the corner(s) we draft are depth/developemental guys, or somebody who can come in Day 1 and make an impact as a starter. Here are some possibilities. Vontae Davis, Illinois - Unagruably the most physically gifted corner in this draft. Davis isabsolutely everything you want in a CB from a physical standpoint. The questions regarding him, and the reason he could very well fall to 25, are his coachability. At Illinois, Davis did not always take to coaching well, and was even benched at one point. If Vontae got good advice from his brother Vernon though, he'll learn that coaches are the ticket to stardom in this league, and if he does realize that he's easily the best corner in this draft. He has very good speed and great size; he's got tremendous footwork and closing speed, very good ball skills and leap. He's got everything you want in a cornerback, let's just see if he gets the other part of his game right. I'd say the chances of Vontae falling to Miami right now are about 50/50. It's hard to tell where the young man will go. Darius Butler, UConn - I like Butler a lot, but if he's our pick, one thing for sure; We either think that Jason is our starting corner opposite Will Allen, or we feel like he can at least see the field plenty against bigger WRs. Butler is 186 pounds, and can't afford to gain much weight because of the way he plays. He's a speedster with GREAT closing speed and hips. He would make a perfect slot/nickel corner in my opinion, and I think a very good starting corner in the NFL. However, I don't want to see Miami going Butler unless their pretty confident in Jason. The reason I say that is because a corner unit of the 186 pound Butler and Will Allen is a very small one, and will create match-up problems. This, again though, is unless we are planning on using Jason when we play bigger corners. In other words, a rotational 3 CBs. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St. - Jenkins is said to be hybrid type of player, maybe better suited to play the FS position than the CB at the next level, but all I see is guy who consistently showed up to play on saturdays at the college level. I wouldn't pay attention to the 4.54 40 time he got, as he plays faster than that on the field from what I've seen. I like the way he uses his physical attributes on the field, and I think he'd be a very good corner to opposite Will Allen. He's got speed, quickness, playmaking ability, he's a good tackler, and he's got excellent size at 6'1, 200. I think he's gone by 25, but if he's there, there are not many players Parcells would chose over him. Sean Smith, Utah - A project corner, Smith has tons of upside. He's got unbelievable size at 6'4, he's got good speed, and GREAT ball skills. He's a former WR, so you know that when the ball is in the air he's going to go get it, especilly with that size. Smith should be available at 44, and possibly 56. He could prove to be a steal, but he would not be a starter right away. In fact, he might not get much playing time if any his rookie season. His potential is through the roof though. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest - Smith is an interesting guy. He does not have good size, as he is not even 5'10. He has great speed though, and he's got huge playmaking ability. I think that if we're confident in Jason Allen, Smith would be a great pick in the second round as a nickel corner. He reminds you a lot of Asante Samuel. While Parcells doesn't like small CBs, this young man is hard to pass up at 44 or 56. Victor "Macho" Harris - There is one more kid I want to talk about, and that is Macho Harris. I love this kid. His 40 time wasn't the best, but he has decent size at 5'11 200. I love Macho because he plays like his nickname would suggest. He plays big. He is an interception machine, a good tackler, decent speed, aggressive, and is a threat to take it to the house everytime he touches it, whether it be on special teams or after a turnover. He also is a great special teamer, and not just in the return game; he is awesome out on special teams coverage. In a nutshell, Harris is a playmaker. Aright, here is how I see it all playing out: 1. Detroit- Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia – If I were the Lions, I would select Eugene Monroe, but I’m not, and unfortunately for Lion fans they are taking the most over-rated player in this draft. Stafford has a rocket arm, but is very inconsistent in everything he does. To me he’s a bust, but he is the Lions pick at number one overall.
2. St. Louis- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor – Jason Smith is not the best OT in the draft, but he is certainly the best pass blocker and that is the main thing that St. Louis is looking for. Smith is a lock at number two here. The Rams certainly want out of this spot, but they will not be able to, and Smith is the next franchise OT in St. Louis.
3. Kansas City- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest – The recent rumors of Tyson Jackson being the pick here don’t lead me to believe that Jackson will be the pick, but more so that KC is looking to solidify that front 7. I think that they take the BPA, Aaron Curry, who just so happens to play along that front 7.
4. Seattle- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia – Monroe is the best player available here, and he will help keep Matt Hasselbeck alive for the rest of his career. Walter Jones’ replacement, and like the Rams, they should not lose a beat here on the left side of the O-line with a selection like this.
5. Cleveland- Michael Crabtree, WR, T-Tech – Rumor has it that the Browns will trade Quinn and draft Sanchez here. I don’t buy it one but, and I think that they take Crabtree here. Whoever the QB, the Browns went from having a great WR core to having a very weak one. Winslow got traded, Edwards will get traded within the next few days, and Stallworth is in serious trouble with the law. They are rumored to love Crabtree, and that is one rumor I do believe. He is the pick here.
6. Cincinnati- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama – People are giving the Bengals all sorts of things here, but if you talk to any knowledgeable person to the situation in Cincinnati, they will tell you that OT is the pick here. Andre Smith isn’t the best character guy out there, but Marvin Lewis doesn’t seem to have a problem with character, (see Henry).
7. Oakland- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Mizzou – Oakland needs a WR. Maclin plays WR. He’s also pretty darn fast, and we know what types of players Al Davis likes. Maclin is the pick here.
8. Washington (via Jacksonville)- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – Dan Snyder is in love with this kid, and Jacksonville will take a cheaper offer than most to trade down. Either way, Sanchez is the pick at number 8, whether it be Washington trading up, or Jacksonville sticking with it and taking him. I didn’t buy into all the talk of the Jags drafting Sanchez, but after talking to Jaguar fans, I see it happening if there is no trade down. There will be though, and Washington starts over with Sanchez. Sorry Jason Campbell.
9. Green Bay- B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – Green Bay was absolutely putrid against the run last year, and Raji is the best NT in this draft by far. Switching to the 34, the Pack need a NT, obviously. Another option is the better D-lineman Tyson Jackson, but Raji plays a more imperative position in a 34 D.
10. San Fran- Tyson Jackson, DT/DE, LSU – The best players available here. San Fran builds up that Front 7 with this pick.
11. Buffalo- Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas – Looking at my mock, I’m trying to find somewhere to put a pass rusher in the top ten. No where is logical enough to me though, which surprises myself because of how important pass rusher is. The Bills are ecstatic that Orakpo is still on the board.
12. Denver- Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn St. – I’m sure that Denver would have much rather had Orakpo or Raji be options here, but they take the next best Front 7 player here in Maybin and wait till later to address the D-line.
13. Jacksonville (via Washington)- Michael Oher, OT, Miss – Jacksonville gets somebody they could have easily taken at number 8. A perfect fit too. They fill a big need along the offensive line, and they get a great character guy, something GM Gene Smith
14. New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, CB/FS, Ohio St. – New Orleans could use some DBs, and Jenkins can either play the CB or FS position at the next level.
15. Houston-Darius Butler, CB, UConn – There has been lots of talk of DEs and LBs here with this pick. I don’t buy it, they brought in plenty of veteran guys along the Front 7, and have a serious problem at the CB position with Robinson possibly holding out. They take a CB here.
16. San Diego- Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC – For an 8-8 team, San Diego certainly doesn’t have many needs. That said, ILB could be considered their biggest, and Maualuga is a steal at 16. They now have the best LB core in the NFL.
17. New York (Jets)- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – Obviously Josh Freeman is a popular pick here, but I don’t think they’ll take him. CB, while having good young talent, was a big issue for the Jets last year. They take the best one in this draft, and Rex Ryan turns him into something great.
18. Denver- Peria Jerry, DT, Miss – Denver picked up the pass rusher at 12, now they pick up a possible NT to run that 34 in Jerry. I see him as more of a 43 guy, so DE in Denver’s 34 might be a better position for him. Either way Jerry is a force inside, and they’ll find a way to utilize him.
19. Tampa Bay- Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St. – I don’t buy the Tampa passing on this kid at 19. Jerry is off the board, and they take the QB of the future to develop. Baltimore took the small school, big armed kid in Flacco in the mid 1st round last year, and I’d say it worked out pretty good.
20. Detroit- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona – They got the QB number one, now it’s time to give him and Culpepper while he’s in there some protection.
21. Philadelphia-Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. – Philly might even trade up for this guy, and I can’t believe I haven’t mocked him anywhere yet. He’s the pick here, no question.
22. Minnesota- Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC – The second best receiver in this draft goes to the team who needs a WR as much as any.
23. New England- Robert Ayers, OLB, Tennessee – Jerrod Mayo’s roommate in college, Ayers will be the pick here.
24. Atlanta- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St. – Atlanta gives their franchise QB a big target for years to come, and another pass protector.
25. Miami- Clay Mathews, OLB, USC – Parcells loves this kid, and while I hate the pick, he will be the pick here, even with Cushing and Brown still on the board. If he pans out he's exactly what Miami needs here. A nickel/3rd down LB who can drop back into coverage or blitz from various spots, and a very very good special teamer.
26. Baltimore- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC – Cushing wouldn’t fill a need, but he’s such a great value here, and the Ravens will find a way to use him.
27. Indianapolis- Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland- The Colts are rumored to want a WR here, and if they do, it’s a deep threat. Wayne has good but not great speed and isn’t getting younger, and Gonzalez is a possession guy. They do have some speedy 4 and 5 guys on the roster, but Bey has the potential to be a good number 2.
28. Buffalo- Ziggy Hood, DT, Mizzou – Buffalo adds somebody to go along with Stroud here.
29. New York Giants- Brian Robiskie, WR, OSU – The most polished and NFL ready WR in this draft.
30. Tennessee- Everette Brown, DE/OLB, FSU – An absolute steal here, Brown provides Tennessee with some more pass rush.
31. Arizona – Chris Wells, RB, OSU – Steal of the draft? Wells is a top 10 caliber pick in my opinion. Unfortunate that he had the injury.
32. Pittsburgh – Max Unger, C, Oregon – It’s either Unger or Mack here. Another option could be Loadholt. Beatty isn’t enough of a mauler to be a Steeler.
44. Miami – Sean Smith, CB, Utah – Very physically gifted corner here. We have to be pretty confident in Jason Allen though, because Smith is not a starter Day 1.
56. Miami – Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida – Parcells likes TEs. People don’t think about it much, but when you do, you look at Mark Bavaro in New York, then Ben Coats in New England, and Jason Witten in Dallas. Miami adds more weapons for Chad Henne here.
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