Are Miami Dolphins locked in on cornerback round one?

The Miami Dolphins could go linebacker, cornerback, running back, offensive line, or just about anywhere else in this months draft so being locked into one position isn’t the smart move.

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When it comes to mock drafts, it’s almost a uniform consensus that the Dolphins are locked in on choosing a corner back with the 13th overall pick. That’s not to say they weren’t already when they still had pick number 8. With so many other needs on both sides of the ball, Miami shouldn’t be locked in on anyone at this point.

Of course this is simple conjecture by puting the mock drafts into context and reading the reports from the “mainstream” media guys who cover the team. Everything points towards a corner and that is fine, if it’s all misdirection on Miami’s part. If any of it’s true at all that is.

There is no denying that the Dolphins need a corner. There are no guarantees that Byron Maxwell will play well this year or that next year he will be with the team. His salary is not team friendly after 2016. With the loss of Brent Grimes there are considerable question marks at both corner positions and in the slot. Naturally you look at the draft as a landing spot.

Mackensie Alexander seems to be the hot name these days. At pick 8 it was Vernon Hargreaves, III. Alexander is a little shorter than the prototypical corner but he makes up for it with his toughness and athleticism. But there are question marks as well. He isn’t as fluid as he could be and he doesn’t support the run well enough despite his efforts. In other words, his tackling at the point of contact against the run is not that great.

Alexander like every other player has upside and downside but at the corner position it’s tough to jump right into the NFL. That is where Eli Apple could have problems.

The Ohio State product also linked in many mocks to the Dolphins is gifted by has a tendency to grab receivers. This is problematic against bigger receivers who have too much speed for Apple to handle. In the NFL those little grabs will draw flags that move the ball downfield. Many scouts see Apple as a high potential player but one who still needs time to develop. Can the Dolphins afford to wait?

Miami took a nap during most of free agency and that was in some ways a good thing. They finally stopped overspending on players who were nothing more than big names demanding big contracts and yet not fitting within the teams make-up. While being somewhat quiet has it’s benefits, the Dolphins failure to address the corner position basically put the team in a swap of Grimes for Maxwell and changed nothing else.

Entering the draft the Dolphins need to look beyond the simple fact that they have a glaring need in the secondary and realize that they have needs at other positions and will have needs after the 2016 season. Miami has to start looking at the future and deciding whether or not the draft is strong for future consideration. In other words if this years draft is deep at DE and next year Miami is expected to need DE help, then Miami should draft this year for that hole. This to me is where a player like Jack Conklin comes in to play given the Dolphins needs now and in the future along the offensive line.

Whether the Dolphins draft an offensive lineman or any other position really doesn’t matter. Miami can not afford to reach on a player simply because they have a gaping hole at the position right now. There are always other options. Free agents after the draft and so on. Miami can’t simply get into a pigeon hole with their choices and that means they have to be willing to take an impact player who will impact the roster and not just one who fits a need.

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