Imperative for Dolphins to capitalize early in draft

The Dolphins are faced with the daunting task of instantly filling positions of need via the draft. If not, ramifications of yesteryear are soon to follow.

Anyone within the Miami Dolphins organization—or with any shred of football knowledge, for that matter—understands that the Dolphins’ biggest needs going into this upcoming draft are at cornerback, linebacker, running back, and defensive end.

When one considers that the aforementioned positions are all equally important to the team’s success and future, one must also conclude that the Dolphins are in the middle of a complicated situation.

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First-year head coach Adam Gase, Mike Tannenbaum, and the rest of the Dolphins organization cannot afford to miss on players taken early in this years draft. That is why the Dolphins must get players capable of starting and contributing immediately at these positions of need.

When their name is called with the 13^th pick of the 2016 NFL draft, what player will become the newest member of the Miami Dolphins?

It’s pure speculation at this point.

Although a lot of attention is focused on a team’s first overall pick, it’s what a team does in the duration of the draft that grants them a passing grade or not from NFL experts, analysts, and a team’s fans.

There’s no doubt the Dolphins have all four previously mentioned positions on their draft board. But so do the teams drafting before the Dolphins; that’s what makes this decision so complicated (every year).

In a perfect world, the Dolphins would select a quarterback; a quarterback who would instill confidence in his fans, carrying a team on his back—excelling on third down, in the red zone, and in the fourth quarter.

But that’s not happening anytime soon, for two reasons: such player doesn’t exist in this year’s draft, and the Dolphins are still in the middle of the Ryan Tannehill-experiment.

It’s a long shot, but if the Dolphins can get two starting-caliber players with their first two picks they’re golden. This is why—after contemplating and over thinking every scenario—I see the Dolphins selecting Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, followed by a cornerback; Houston’s William Jackson III, or Miami’s Artie Burns.

Ragland, a traditional inside linebacker, can play either in the middle or on the outside. During his time at the Senior Bowl, he played outside linebacker to show potential coaches his versatility. Despite struggling at times covering smaller and faster tailbacks in open space, Ragland is the prototypical linebacker—he’s big (6’2 258), has the pedigree (Alabama), is excellent against the run, and has a knack for finding ball carriers.

Ragland is exactly what the Dolphins defense, who ranked 25^th in the league last year, needs. Ragland can benefit from playing behind one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in Ndamukong Suh. If anything, with the drafting of Ragland, the Dolphins would add much-needed depth at a young linebacker position.

With their second pick (42^nd overall) the Dolphins can take advantage of the array of talented defensive backs in this years draft and grab a cornerback. Either William Jackson III or Artie Burns should be available here, and either would provide help to the Dolphins secondary.

Both Jackson and Burns provide length and agility at the position and, if drafted, can most likely be penciled in as a starter opposite newly acquired cornerback Byron Maxwell from the Philadelphia Eagles.

The likelihood of the Dolphins selecting one or two of these players is great. Within the past few weeks, all three have met and have been interviewed by the Dolphins staff. There’s not a lot to dislike from either one of these young players; they all can play.

Personally, I would be shocked if the Dolphins didn’t draft Ragland, Jackson III, or Burns. It’s imperative to the team and their future. But as we know, the Dolphins, come draft day, have a reputation of causing eyes to widen and jaws to drop.

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