Dolphins Add High Potential Players On Day 2
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins may have added Ryan Tannehill on day one to likely sit for a year but rounds two and three will likely yield starters. Entering day two of the NFL Draft, the Dolphins needed to address DE/OLB, G/T, and WR. As players dropped in front of them, the Dolphins stayed with their draft board and kept true to what they worked on all off-season.
Day 2 started for the Dolphins with the selection of OG/OT Jonathan Martin a round 1 rated rookie. Martin will be penciled in as the day one starter at RT to battle with Lydon Murtha. Martin is capable of playing both the right side and the left side so will provide much valued depth behind LT Jake Long and can slide to the left if Long goes down or take the position over entirely if he they fail to resign the former first overall pick.
Many draft pundits expected to see Martin drafted in round one but a huge run on DE’s and WR’s late in round 1 sent Martin to the second. For the Dolphins they drafted who many believe was the second or third best tackle in this years draft.
As the third round closed in, the Dolphins according to an NFL Network coverage report were desperately trying to trade back into round 2 but by the time the round started, the Dolphins stood pat and waited for their name to go on the clock. With two picks in round three back to back, the Dolphins decided to trade down with the second and in return gained another sixth round selection. They moved down six spots.
With their first selection, the Dolphins stayed home and selected edge rushing defender Olivier Vernon of Miami University. Vernon becomes the first “U” player selected by the Dolphins since Vernon Carey (must be something in the name Vernon). Olivier will come in and challenge for a starting role but will find playing time in pass situations. While I don’t know a ton about the selection, draft analysts on both networks praised the selection and said that Vernon was rated as a second round selection. Many Dolphins fans who follow the Hurricanes will know more about him and I urge them to post their comments on Vernon below.
After moving back six places, the Dolphins selected TE Michael Egnew of Missouri. Most fans believed the Dolphins would go WR here but the team felt a deeper need to draft a seam threat TE. Egnew is the new prototype TE in the NFL. Tall and not stocky. At 6’5″ Egnew runs a 4.6 40 with very good hands and the ability to get open in space. What Egnew can’t do is block but the Dolphins have blocking TE’s on their roster but do not have that “Jermichael Finley” type that Joe Philbin relied on heavily in Green Bay.
All told, the Dolphins stuck with their board and drafted players with high-ceilings who should excel in the situations they will be put in. While Martin should be a major anchor on the right side of the line, both Vernon and Egnew should become reliable playmakers.
Rounds 4-7 will start today at noon.