5 best first round options for Miami Dolphins

Reggie Ragland – ILB – Alabama

The Dolphins traded for Kiko Alonso who is on the final year of his rookie contract. Alonso has a lot of potential but injuries have forced him to miss a lot of time since his rookie season. In fact Alonso has not come close to the production during his rookie season in the three years since. Last year the Bills traded Alonso to the Eagles as part of the LeSean McCoy trade. Miami still needs to find a starting interior linebacker even with Alonso on the roster.

Ragland is a pure interior linebacker who is able to make quick reads and tackles at the point of attack. Ragland is very physical and has the ability to cover tight ends which would help in the AFC East. He is also instictive and a very good tackler both at the line and in the open field.

What Ragland lacks or lacked at the college level was the leadership one would want from a linebacker on the inside. That too is something that he can grow into at the NFL level. Ragland is ready to play now. He has played in a tough college division and against top programs that prepare players for the next level. Unless the Dolphins are looking at adding say Jaylon Smith in the mid-round as a future player, the Dolphins should seriously consider making Ragland their top draft pick.

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