Well, we are finally here as the 2012 NFL Draft is here. Time to put all the games and lying to the side and time to start building your football team.
Let's go ahead and take a look at how things could possibly play out for Miami in the draft.
1) Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A & M, 6'3 7/8, 221 lbs - Has the protypical size you want at the quarterback position with well above average athleticsm, as he was a wide receiver his 1st few years with the Aggies. Can make all the throws and throws extremely well on the run with solid touch and accuracy. The concerns about Tannehill is he has only 19 career starts, has inconsistent mechanics, footwork and delivery points and is raw reading coverages and going thru his progression. Miami will be damned if they do and damned if they don't take Tannehill. It's a tough call, but in the end I think Tannehill can be their quarterback of the future and will be able to allow him to sit behind QB Matt Moore and David Garrard. If Tannehill is not the pick, DT Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State, WR Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State, WR Michael Floyd of Notre Dame, DE Quinton Coples of UNC and OLB/DE Melvin Ingram of South Carolina could be in the picture along with trading down if certain scenarios play out. Don't rule out trading down either.
2) Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia, 6'3, 245 lbs - The Dolphins need a pass rusher opposite Cameron Wake, and in Irvin, you have a kid that is nearly a clone of Wake in regards to his explosiveness coming off the ball. Ran a 4.5 40 at the combine and comes screaming off the edge. 22.5 sacks and 29.0 tackles for loss in his 2 years with the Mountaineers. Some concerns about stamina and some off the field issues, but Irvin is a player the Dolphins have showed interest in and was in Davie, FL for a visit. He has the ability to provide what Aldon Smith provided for the 49ers last year, double digit sacks.
3) Brandon Brooks, OG/OT, Miami, OH, 6'5, 346 lbs - The Dolphins gave up 52 sacks and 95 hits on the quarterback in 2011. To say the Dolphins need to improve the line play is an understatement. Brooks is extremely versatile and has played 4 of the 5 positions on the offensive line. Big, strong & powerful with nice movement ability, he ran a 4.99 40 at his Pro Day. The Dolphins are going to more of a zone blocking scheme, so Brooks weight will need to be watched and he will probably come in and lose some weight, but the Dolphins like his talent.
3) Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette, 6'5 3/4, 238 lbs - The Dolphins need weapons for whoever will be the starting quarterback. Charles Clay will make the move to TE to join Anthony Fasano and the Dolphins do have a couple other tight ends on the roster. None have the capabilities that this kid has, which is his size to go with a 4.53 40 time. He has the ability to line up in the slot, out wide or as an inline TE. 149 career catches for 2,201 yards for a 14.8 yard average with 22 career touchdowns. He has to work to become a better inline blocker and bulk up, but he has a chance to be the Dolphins Jermichael Finley.
4) Joe Adams, WR/PR, Arkansas, 5'10 5/8, 179 lbs - More weapons, and an explosive slot wide receiver with tremendous value as a top return guy. Can take a short pass and turn it into a big play and take it to the house, Adams has elite speed, quickness and above average hands. Career 164 catches for 2,402 yards with a 14.6 yard average and 17 touchdowns on an Arkansas team with many weapons. SEC Special Teams Player of the Year for 2011, Adams had 19 returns for 324 yards and a 16.9 yard average with 4 return touchdowns, and NCAA high for 2011. The concerns are a thin frame and limited route tree and Adams can be inconsistent in his play, but this is an explosive, big play guy.
5) Tom Compton, ORT, South Dakota State, 6'4, 7/8, 314 lbs - While ORT Lyndon Murtha is a talented kid and will go into camp as the starter at ORT, his main issue has been injuries. Compton has that nasty mentality and physical style you like on an offensive lineman and the movement skills required to fit into the new zone blocking scheme the Dolphins will implement.
6) Chris Greenwood, CB/S, Albion, 6'1 1/4, 193 lbs - When you have the New England Patriots and the tight end tandem of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, you need players that have the size and coverage ability to match up. Big cornerbacks have a better chance to matchup than smaller cornderbacks most safeties with the exception of Ed Reed. Greenwood has the size and ball skills, as he has 13 career interceptions. He comes from a smaller school, so the level of competition is a concern, but he has the physical talent.
7) Jerry Franklin, ILB, Arkansas, 6'1 3/8, 242 lbs - With the move to a hybrid 4-3 defense, the Dolphins need depth at the ILB position and someone to challenge Koa Misi. Franklin redshirted his 1st year, and after that, was a major contributor for the Razorbacks. 369 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 14 pass breakups and 5 interceptions.