NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins Take BPA At 14
By Eric Roddy
The NFL Draft will take place in just ten days, beginning on Thursday, April 30, and the Miami Dolphins will pick 14th overall. Here is a look at a mock draft up to pick 14 (when Miami picks), barring no trades. There will of course be trades on draft day, but let’s pretend for time sake that the first 14 teams stay put.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
No surprise here. Winston is the franchise guy, and the consensus best pick in the draft. Heck, even Winston thinks he’s the best player in the draft, and rightfully so. This would surprise me if it did not happen.
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT USC
Williams could be the most sure thing in this draft, and the Titans need a pass rusher. I think come draft day they will trade down, or make a play on a veteran QB in exchange for this 2nd overall pick. But, we aren’t doing trades, so Williams here would be a nice fit for an already budding Titans defense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, Dante Fowler Jr. OLB Florida
Fowler reminds me a lot of Khalil Mack, who absolutely killed it this year with Oakland. It would not surprise me if Fowler went to Tennessee at two, as he is perhaps the most explosive defensive player in the draft. The Jags just can’t afford not to go BPA this high, and get this Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in the process.
4. Oakland Raiders, Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
The Raiders will go receiver here, and my guess is the perfectly polished Cooper. No, he may not have the athleticism that White or Parker have, but Cooper has instinct and smarts. He is the next Marvin Harrison, if not more athletic. Cooper will quickly become Derek Carr‘s number one guy, and the Raiders end their streak of poor first round draft picks (which they broke last year by taking Khalil Mack). If Dante Fowler Jr. falls to 4, the pairing of him with Khalil Mack would almost outweigh Oakland’s need for a pass catcher. Almost.
5. Washington Redskins, Shane Ray, DE Missouri
Washington will have its pick at the next best pass rusher behind Fowler Jr, and they could not go wrong with either Ray or Beasley. I see them taking Ray, who was an absolute sack master in college, and played in the tougher SEC. He is not as athletic or versatile as Beasley, but what Ray does well is get to the QB, which is exactly what the Redskins need to do a better job of (they were tied for 21st in sacks in 2014).
6. New York Jets, Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
I really think Mariota is arguably the hardest prospect to predict a landing spot, but if he is available at 6, there is no way the Jets don’t pull the trigger. Their question at quarterback (right now its Geno Smith) makes this an obvious pick. Mariota certainly has the tangibles to become a successful signal caller, and the Jets already well rounded offensive and defensive units could help the young signal caller succeed immediately.
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7. Chicago Bears, Kevin White, WR West Virginia
Cooper is gone to the Raiders, and enter Kevin White. He and Alshon Jeffrey side by side will make the Bears forget about losing Brandon Marshall really quickly. Throw the ball Kevin’s way, Jay! White has the talent to become the next best wide receiver in the league, and would just give Jeffrey more one on one coverage on the outside.
8. Atlanta Falcons, Brandon Scherff, OT Iowa
Matt Ryan was on his back or in a hurry a lot last season, especially in the “basically a playoff” game against the Panthers in Week 17. The Panthers got to Ryan with ease almost every play. Scherff could help them there, and would start immediately opposite Jake Matthews. Is it the sexy pic? No, especially not after taking a tackle in the first round last season. Two bookends would keep Ryan upright, and there is more depth at the pass rushing position than on the OL in this draft. Scherff is that good too.
9. New York Giants, Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson
Beasley would start immediately for the G men, whose pass rush has fallen off since the years of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. Beasley can also stand up and serve adequately in coverage. With Scherff gone, Beasley is the BPA and fills a need. Take him.
10. St. Louis Rams, Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
That’s right, Gurley makes the top 10, as he should. This bruiser of a RB will recover perfectly from his leg injury, and will wreak havoc in the NFC for a while. Jeff Fisher loves big bruising backs (remember Eddie George?), and Gurley will win the starting job in camps over Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham. This will shock some people, but I am being bold and calling it.
11. Minnesota Vikings, Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State
Waynes is the best corner, and the Vikings need someone to start opposite of last year’s first round Xavier Rhodes, especially in the pass happy NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is almost perfect against the Vikings, and bolstering their secondary is the first step towards knocking off the big cheese. Waynes is the answer and fills a need.
12. Cleveland Browns, DeVante Parker, WR Louisville
Parker will be gone by Miami picks at 14, the question is to who? Cleveland can’t keep up with Josh Gordon‘s latest felony, and will instead replace him with the equally explosive Parker. I think Parker will have the most successful rookie campaign out of all wide receivers, and will greatly aid whoever Cleveland starts at QB.
13. New Orleans Saints, Randy Gregory, DE Nebraska
Yes, Gregory has had some off the field issues. But that is what Sean Payton is good at fixing, those guys with off the field problems. Gregory will be a great value pick because he will fall. He was once listed as high as 2 on big boards, and the Saints need a pass rusher. They get just that in Gregory, who I think has the best motor in the draft.
14. Miami Dolphins, Danny Shelton, DT Washington
That is right, the Dolphins take the BPA at 14th overall and select Danny Shelton. I think Parker goes here if he is left, but he isn’t in this mock, so Shelton makes the next best pick. He is an absolute monster at 6 foot 2, 339 pounds, and compares to Vince Wilfork. Shelton will give depth to an already outstanding Miami D-Line, and a pairing of Shelton with Suh could be deadly.
FINS UP!