5 best first round options for Miami Dolphins

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The Miami Dolphins will make their pick in this months NFL Draft sometime in the first two hours. Who are the Dolphins best options with the 13th pick?

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With so many needs for the team, selecting a day one starter shouldn’t be a problem for the Dolphins. The questions that remain is what area of the team should be addressed first? The Dolphins select 13th overall barring a trade up or down.

Miami enters this years draft needing quality starters at corner back, linebacker, running back, and offensive line but they also need defensive end help as well. Moving out of the 8th spot filled two immediate needs. The additions of Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell help but after the trade the Dolphins released Brent Grimes creating the same hole they had filled. The addition of Mario Williams is at most a two year fix which leaves the defensive end position in flux.

Miami could opt to address the defensive end position next year. They have Williams, Cameron Wake, and Terrence Fede on the roster now. They also have Damontre Moore, CFL standout Cleyon Lainge, and recently added Andre Branch. The need can wait this year unless a standout falls to them in round two or two 13.

What the Dolphins don’t need is a quarterback, wide-receiver, and tight-end. The Dolphins may address those position later in the draft for depth and competition but not in round one. Luckily for the Dolphins there are solid options in round one expected to be available at pick 13 when Miami goes on the clock. Here is a look at the top five options that I would consider drafting.

Ezekiel Elliot – Running Back – Ohio State

Elliot is the best running back in this years draft class and some have compared him to Adrian Peterson while others to last years rookie of the year Todd Gurley. It’s impossible to know what kind of NFL career Elliot will have but he is a solid game changing threat on any offense and happens to fill a need for the Dolphins at that position.

Currently the Dolphins host a hodgepodge of runners. The returning Jay Ajayi is penciled in as the teams day one starter. Ajayi can be explosive and hard to take down but his injury history has to be a concern to some degree. The Dolphins need to make sure they have a plan in place should Ajayi be lost for any length of time. Adding Elliot will allow the team to rotate running backs which has become the norm in today’s NFL.

Elliot is quick with a very good burst and great vision around the field. He doesn’t hesitate behind the line of scrimmage. In addition he is a serviceable blocking back and can contribute in the passing game as well as a receiver although he will need to develop a little more in that area. Elliot’s physicality and athleticism makes him a solid option at 13 but the question remains as to whether or not he will fall that far. The Eagles are expected to take a long look at drafting Elliot in the 8th spot of the draft.

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