What If The Dolphins Drafted…

Brandon Marshall fever is hitting south Florida in a big way.  His recent introduction to the local media gave no inclination that this was a “diva problem child”.  He said all the right things, made all the right faces, shook hands and probably kissed babies.  Now, with the biggest hole that fans have asked to have filled, filled, what will the Dolphins do with their number 12 overall pick now that Dez Bryant isn’t likely in their plans?

What if, the Dolphins drafted CJ Spiller?

Everyone assumes the Phins will go defense.  With holes at Safety, OLB, and NT not to mention a top player at MLB, would giving the offense more fire power be the move to make?  Can the Dolphins wait until round 3 to address the defensive side of the ball?

Maybe, maybe not.  The Phins are openly trying to trade Ronnie Brown and if that is the case, then the team will have to look at filling that hole for the long term.  Ricky is not the answer and while the team love Patrick Cobbs and saw positive things from Lex Hilliard last season, they are hardly linchpins for the future.  That is where a back like Spiller can come in handy.

Brandon Marshall is signed for 5 years.  Chad Henne is on board for another 3.  Jake Long?  Another 3.  Key positions are filled for the next several years and the Phins will surely lock them all to extensions before they become free agents.  So if the Phins wanted to change up the offense, now would be a good time to add a new runner to a unit that could suddenly become explosive.

The unit themselves will have years to become a home run threat every time they stepped out on the field.  Something the Phins haven’t had since Dan Marino was in his prime.  The last time the Dolphins had a legitimate WR threat was when they brought in Irving Fryar.  Some fans are probably saying, “Irving who?”  Yes it’s been that long.

Before the Phins can take a guy like Spiller they have to ask themselves if he is worth the turned back towards the defensive holes.  The Dolphins can not move back too far and think they can still land the running-back so if they want him, 12 is it.  By doing so, they lose not only a defensive stud, but won’t have the opportunity to draft one until round 3 barring a trade.

This is a deep draft all over the board so missing a pick in round 2 is huge.  Yes, no one at 43 will have the impact that Marshall will, but 43 would be a starter and that narrows the choices for the Dolphins in round 1.

CJ Spiller is somewhat of a luxury pick with or without a 2nd rounder but there is not questioning his talent or his home-run threat.  Will the Phins see that or will they see the gaping holes on the defensive side of the ball instead.

If the Dolphins stay at 12, it’s anyone’s game.  One thing we all learned last year is that nothing is what we think.  After watching all of the mid-round can’t miss LB’s fall to the late 1st or even out of the 1st all together, we learned that 1st round projections are exactly that, projections…and nothing more.

CJ Spiller may be a Miami Dolphin and if he becomes one, the Dolphins have decided to change the way they approach the offense.