First Round Options For The Miami Dolphins: pt 2
Sep 7, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Eric Ebron (85) dives into the endzone over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders corner back Jared Singletary (24) on a 2-point conversion attempt at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome back Miami Dolphins fans! I surely hope you were able to check out our previous version, if not click here.
We will continue looking at my top 7 targets for the Miami Dolphins with their 19th overall selection in May’s 2014 NFL Draft!
#7: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.
-Amaro would be a great addition to this offense, especially in terms of adding a viable red-zone target along with a solid compliment to TE Charles Clay. Amaro is roughly 6’6” and runs excellent routes with soft hands. Sounds like a young quarterback’s best friend, eh? Amaro is in the mold of that “poster child” for the “new era” of the NFL in which we have speedy, big, and athletic tight ends who can stretch the field for their offense instead of the “old school” big, meaty, slow, and nonathletic tight ends who mainly block.
Is he the guy at 19? I definitely would consider it if the next 6 are off the board. He would add a great dimension to this offense and I would love to see what OC Bill Lazor could do with a talent like Amaro.
#6: Zach Martin, T/G, Notre Dame.
-Zach Martin’s stock has been climbing for months now and, depending on who you talk to, he could be gone by the 19th pick come May. Martin is short with a stocky build, but has decent athleticism allowing him to move well for an offensive lineman. He is not going to overwhelm you if you stick him at left tackle in the pros, but he could be a decent right tackle for a team if they value him at that position. Martin’s best position, however, would be guard. This guy could be one of the best guards in the league within the next two or three seasons, the only problem is, how do you feel about taking a guard at 19?
Is he the guy at 19? Well, the consensus is that Martin to Miami is almost a sure thing. That being said, don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Martin is a very unsexy pick at 19 and given the team’s owner, who is tired of being a laughing stock (MR. ROSS) and the depth this year’s class provides at tackle and guard, I don’t feel too comfortable with Martin at 19.
Oct 6, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Ryan Shazier (10) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
#5: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State.
-Ryan Shazier is this year’s most physically gifted athlete at the linebacker position, in my opinion. Shazier, a former safety, has the athletic ability to immediately step in and start for any team at the next level. He’s a will linebacker in a 4-3 scheme and would provide a huge upgrade over Miami’s WLB Philip Wheeler. Shazier excels in coverage and is one of the class’ most sure tacklers. His weak point is being able to properly shed on-coming blockers to get to ball carriers, along with having a small frame for a linebacker.
Is he the guy at 19? This is a tough choice for Miami at 19. The team, if they were targeting Shazier, could move back to gain another selection, but if they fall too far back, they could actually take themselves out of position. If the value is there for Hickey and co. go for it. If not, move on.
#4: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh.
-Confession time, up until the combine I was NOT an Aaron Donald fan at all and I did not want Miami to draft him come May. I saw him as an undersized defensive tackle who clearly overachieved in the ACC. Bottom line…..he blew me away in Indy. He is undersized for a defensive tackle in any scheme, but he possesses some incredible intangibles that are absolutely off-the-chart. Donald is a force against the run and is a nuisance while pass rushing. Again, my only issue with Donald is his size. He will need to bulk up a bit before he sees any significant time, in my opinion.
Is he the guy at 19? If only he would drop that far. It seems as though Donald will be a Dallas Cowboy if he even lasts that long. This kid is one of those once in a lifetime/generation defensive tackles. He certainly has the hype behind him, but can he back it up?
#3: HaSean “Ha Ha” Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama.
-Clinton-Dix is one of the better safeties in this year’s class and is perhaps the most “pro-ready” safety of them all. Many will point to the old, “He maxed out his potential at Alabama”, line, but Clinton-Dix seems to be a player who could ultimately burst through his “ceiling” and become one of the league’s best at his position. He is a rangy, ball-hawking safety who quarterbacks the defense well. He is a sound tackler, which gives him the edge over Pryor, in my opinion. He does have some character concerns and health concerns, but he would be an excellent option to sit for one season and learn the defense while Louis Delmas plays out his contract.
Is he the guy at 19? He very well could be and I would have no problem with it. He would, in my opinion, serve as an upgrade over Chris Clemons, who is still on the market, and would form quite a nice safety duo with Reshad Jones. Miami’s biggest competition for his services will be St. Louis, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.
#2: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.
Sep 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker C.J. Mosley (32) plays defense during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Cowboys Stadium. Alabama won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
-Eric Ebron is the top tight end in the 2014 NFL Draft class and is one of the more coveted tight ends we have seen in the past five or so years. Ebron has the size, the speed, the hands, the production, and just about everything else NFL executives look for in their tight end, not to mention he presents a mismatch at just about any position you place him on the field. Ebron is a decent route runner, but possesses the class’ best hands at the TE position. Two things you want him to improve. First being his blocking. He’s not a great in-line blocking tight end, but he can get the job done. Second being his strength. You would like to see him get a bit stronger, which goes hand in hand with that blocking thing above.
Is he the guy at 19? I would certainly hope so if he is still on the board, unless my #1 option is still on the board as well…
#1: C.J. Mosley, MLB, Alabama.
-C.J. Mosley is the best inside linebacker in this year’s class and could be going anywhere from 8 to Minnesota to 31 at Denver. He will not blow you away with Patrick Willis-like athleticism, but he has the production, skills, instincts, and just about everything else you want in a middle linebacker. Mosley is a sure tackler in space and covers quite well for an inside linebacker. Mosley is another one of those Alabama football players who some feel have maxed out their potential, but Mosley is on another level. He would thrive in the middle of a 4-3 defense, and would play incredibly well in the middle of a 3-4 defense. His only issue is some knee troubles which some teams are questionable about, which along with an average combine performance is the reason his stock is falling a bit.
Is he the guy at 19? If he’s there, you bet you buttocks he’s the guy. Mosley would shift Ellerbe to the “Will” position, moving Wheeler over to “Sam” to compete with Misi. He would add an incredible upgrade at the middle linebacker position and could even make this defense one of the league’s better units all around.
Well, there it is. Your top 15 first round targets for the Miami Dolphins in the 2014 NFL Draft!