Miami Dolphins Draft Prospect: DeVante Parker

Will the Miami Dolphins draft DeVante Parker in round one of the 2015 NFL Draft? Maybe. There are a lot of maybe’s these days. Over the next two weeks we will be highlighting some of the names that Miami may spend a selection on. Some are players we have heard rumored interest of and others are simply speculation based on needs.

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The information on these players is provided by Ian Wharton of BigBoardDraft.com. Ian put out his first Big Board 2015 NFL Draft Guide that was released this week and with his permission I will be using his information to highlight these players. You can buy a copy of the draft guide, something I highly recommend, by going here. The price for the digital guide is $5.00 and has over 250 profiles of incoming draft prospects complete with rankings. This is a guide that even the biggest draftnik can use. Be sure to follow Ian on Twitter as well @NFLfilmstudy.

With the Dolphins needing wide-receiver help Parker is almost a no-brainer at 14. The problem is he may not be there. Kevin White and Amari Cooper are both projected to go in the top ten. Oakland and Chicago are the odds on favorites to land them. With both top wide-outs off the board, many believe that Parker will be the 3rd receiver taken in the top 12 picks.

Wharton has Parker ranked as the 28th best prospect in this years draft and the 5th best wide out prospect. In his guide, Wharton has Parker listed as the best wide-receiver off the line at snap release, something the Dolphins need for the Bill Lazor offense that often uses quick developing routes.

Parker is listed at 6’3 and 209 pounds with a 36.5 inch vertical leap. His best 40 time was clocked at 4.45. A key attribute that Miami needs is his ability to adjust to passes in the air. The “guide” points out that Parker uses his hands very well to catch the ball and rarely lets the ball into his chest. Athleticism is not out of this world but is not listed as a detriment.

Perhaps the best part of his game is the ability to run after the catch. Sorry Brian Hartline, wasn’t your forte. He does this well while not having elite speed for a wide-out. Wharton compares Parker to Stevie Johnson. He finished his college career with 148 receptions, 2,665 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Wharton’s summary on Parker:

"Parker isn’t an elite athlete, but he’s a good athlete that has great body control and field awareness. The area where Parker can improve upon is his aggressiveness. He is not as willing to go up and rip the ball away from a cornerback at the catch point, despite having success at the catch point in general. Parker can also use his big frame better to block out cornerbacks that are making a play on the ball when running comeback routes or slants with off coverage. It’s a physicality issue that Parker seems unwilling to use his body as a shield. Parker projects as a high-end number two receiver with his ability to produce after the catch and be a reliable possession threat."

Why he wouldn’t be a fit for the Dolphins:

The Dolphins need a wide-receiver who can fight for the ball. Parker’s inability or reluctance to use his body could be a hinderance to the offense and progression of Ryan Tannehill. While Tannehill can throw very good passes we have all seen him at times be inconsistent with his placement. Something that a wide-receiver needs to be able to help with. The Dolphins run a lot of slants and comeback routes as well in the Lazor offense and if that is a big weakness for Parker the Dolphins may need to look a little closer before drafting him.

Why he would be a good fit for the Dolphins:

Talent. This guy has it and can be an explosive playmaker on the field with no known issues off of it. Parker has been healthy most of his college career suffering only a broken foot in the 2014 off-season. Something he came back from without any degradation in play. He has played in several different systems and should fit more naturally into the NFL without a lot adjustments. In addition, Parker while not fast is quick and is able to move corners and make space by selling his routes.

For more information on DeVante Parker read Ian Wharton’s draft guide.

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