2016 NFL Draft top spot trade could effect Dolphins options

The 2016 NFL Draft is still three weeks away but the Tennessee Titans and Los Angels Rams have made a deal for the first overall pick. How will this effect the Miami Dolphins at 13?

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Earlier today it was rumored that the Philadelphia Eagles were trying to get to the first overall pick. For the second year in a row they fall short of their goal to move up and grab the top quarterback prospect. Last year they tried to get in position to draft Marcus Mariota. Today’s trade brings the Titans much wanted draft picks and the Rams a much needed franchise quarterback.

The Rams will give the Titans their 15th, 43rd, 45th, and 76th draft picks this year or their 1st, two 2nd round picks, and their 3rd round pick in this years draft as well as their 3rd rounder in 2017. The Titans will give the Rams their 1st overall pick in this years draft, their 3rd round pick (113) and their 4th round pick (177th).

The move takes the Titans out of the top ten and moves them into the middle of the draft. The Rams will likely draft a quarterback which will move Laremy Tunsil down the board. With Tunsil now likely going third to San Diego (Cleveland doesn’t have a need for a left tackle), Jalen Ramsey could be in position to be the second player off the board.

Mock draft makers are scrambling this morning to account for the change in draft order. But how will this effect the Dolphins?

We already knew that Carson Wentz would be off the board, now likely headed to Los Angeles unless they take Jared Goff which is unlikely, but now that Tunsil is available there will be a shift in what teams between two and 12 might do. A quick look at the possibilities could change who is available at 13.

The Browns will likely go with Jalen Ramsey or Joey Bosa unless they believe that Jared Goff is worth the 2nd overall pick, and San Diego will likely go Tunsil or Ramsey depending on what Cleveland does. Dallas doesn’t need an offensive lineman but if Ramsey is available they may pass on linebacker Myles Jack.

If Dallas does in fact pass on Jack and the top of the draft shakes out with Wentz, Bosa, Tunsil, Ramsey as the top four, Jacksonville could go with Jack or DeForest Buckner at defensive end, which is a bigger need for the Jaguars, Baltimore could turn to Ronnie Stanley to fix their offensive line issues, and San Francisco will likely stick with Jared Goff. That could leave Myles Jack still on the board. With the next three picks looking like this. Buckner, Stanley, and Goff.

This would put Philladelphia on the board at 8 where many believe they could take Ezekiel Elliot but if Myles Jack is still on the board, they could opt to address the linebacker group where they traded Kiko Alonso to the Dolphins. Philadelphia could go three ways here. Running back with Elliot, Jack, or possibly corner back with Vernon Hargreaves, III.

The Eagles also need a top pass rusher and that could be their best option at 8. Following the Eagles at 9 is Tampa Bay and they need a corner as well so Hargreaves could be the option here if the Eagles pass. The Bucs could also look at defensive end where Kevin Dodd is still available.

While it’s impossible to know who will fall where, it’s possible that the Eagles who now hold a big key in this draft for the Dolphins could opt to pass on both Elliot and Jack in favor of a corner or defensive end. Tampa would likely follow with one of those two positions. The Giants would more than likely not pass on Jack which would leave Elliot. The Bears at 11 don’t have a need for running back and suddenly he is left for Miami at 13.

What this trade does is move one team with a need for both quarterback and tackle out of the top 13 picks and moves a team into the top 13 that will go quarterback. This means that Tunsil falling one or two spots will move several players down the line. The Dolphins could have a long shot option at Jack, a shot at Elliot, or possibly one of the top defensive ends in DeForest Buckner or Kevin Dodd depending on what happens.

Another possibility is that the Titans may use some of these newly added draft picks to move back into the top 10 and grab a left tackle. If Ronnie Stanley stays on the board long enough, the Titans could jump into the top 10 which could move a potential landing spot for Elliot or Jack out of the top 13.

In any case, the Dolphins will have at least one more player to consider that they originally didn’t think would be there. And that makes the 13th pick a little more interesting for the Dolphins. In all likelihood however, the draft should still leave Miami with the options to draft a top corner back as it’s entirely possible that the draft won’t change anything for the Dolphins.