Defense should and will be Dolphins first round priority

The Miami Dolphins will more than likely draft a defensive player in next months draft with their first pick in the draft. Despite the fact some believe they will pursue Baker Mayfield.

Frankly, it’s growing tiresome talking about Baker Mayfield. In fact, fans should start hating him now because the better chance is that Mayfield ends up with the Buffalo Bills or the New York Jets. Even if he ends with Denver, Miami will still inevitably have to play him. So start hating now.

The realistic play for Miami is defense. There are only two players that could be sought after by the Dolphins on the offensive side of the ball not playing quarterback and that is Quentin Nelson, the top guard prospect or a wide-receiver.

The best receiver in this years class is Calvin Ridley of Ohio State but Miami doesn’t need a wide-receiver and drafting the top talent would not really help the Dolphins as much as a defender will. With the signing of Josh Sitton to play one of the two guard spots, Miami no longer has a hole to fill at guard. Sam Young will compete with Jesse Davis for the other guard position and Miami should be fine with either one of them.

Everything points to two things, Miami makes a move for a quarterback or it is drafting defense. As mentioned, QB is more than likely a spot the Dolphins won’t have a shot at.

In my most recent NFL Draft simulation, Baker Mayfield was still on the board but that did not account for the Buffalo Bills wanting to jump up into the top five to draft a quarterback so I left him off of the Dolphins selection.

With Vita Vea and Da’Ron Payne on the board, Miami has their choice of either two top defensive tackles in this draft. For the purpose of this mock simulation I chose Payne but this could go either way. The draft played out with both Tremain Edmunds and Roquon Smith off the board.

There is a 50/50 chance that one of the two linebackers will be available when Miami is on the clock but both could just as easily be gone before Miami picks.

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If the Dolphins are not looking defensive end and the linebackers are gone, Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James could be the selection. Fitzpatrick could slide down and play a hybrid linebacker position where he covers the tight-end. This is a new wave of NFL defenses where a standard linebacker isn’t typically used.

The Dolphins could also go the route of corner with Denzel Ward. In the mock we did, both Fitzpatrick and Ward were off the board so the selection choices were one of the top defensive lineman and Derwin James.

Miami’s choices for pick 11 defensively will be good football players. Payne, R. Smith, James, Edmunds, Vea, or Fitzpatrick. Any one of those would improve a defense that needs help in a bad way.

Miami will likely target an offensive player in round two where tight-end seems a popular choice. The Dolphins could opt for linebacker help as well but it will depend on who is available when they pick. I would expect the Dolphins to alternate in the first three rounds going back to defense in round three before moving towards a best player available approach. Not that they won’t in the first three rounds but I believe they will weigh need vs. BPA and go with the BPA on which side of the line makes more sense.

Miami will probably double on linebackers depending on who is available and will likely add a safety/corner and at least one offensive lineman but this years draft will probably be defensive heavy which isn’t a bad thing.