NFL Draft; What’s trending for each team in front of the Miami Dolphins
By Brian Miller
Indianapolis Colts
The Dolphins said last week that they have the “capital” to move up to six if a player they like is available. Who that player is is a guess because it could be a quarterback or it could be a defensive lineman or a linebacker.
The Colts are willing to trade out of this spot and they know that QB is a hot market heading to the draft. Adding more picks makes sense for a team that needs a lot of help at position other than QB. Aside from trading out of this spot, it has been quiet on the rumor front.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While there isn’t much talk about what the Buc’s will be doing in the draft there is a lot of speculation that really amounts to a wide range of options. One player that seems to be gaining momentum is Florida State safety/corner Derwin James. James is a top candidate to go in the top 15 picks and some have him outside of the top ten while others have him pegged between six and 10.
One player to watch however is Saquan Barkley. It’s hard to imagine the running back falling outside of the top five but if the Browns pass twice and the Giants go QB, we know the Jets will go QB, Denver likely to trade and potentially the Colts as well. This moves Barkley out of the top five and many belive that the Bucs will take him.
Don’t rule out running back Derrius Guice either. There are a few who believe that Tampa has penciled him in as their pick if Barkley isn’t there.
Chicago Bears
What will the Bears do with their first round pick? Take a guess. There are very few rumors floating around about the Bears outside of the fact that Quentin Nelson would be their top choice or CB Denzel Ward. Ward is intriguing because the Bears could move down and still draft him. Trading down is starting to become a point of discussion with only a few days left.
San Francisco 49ers
Like the Bears the 49’ers have been quiet. There is talk that they could draft Roquan Smith or Tremain Edmunds or they could draft CB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Whatever they opt to do will likely be in order to give QB Jimmy Garrappolo some help. Either by adding to a defensive unit that needs help or potentially the offensive line.
Oakland Raiders
From recent reports the Raiders seem ready to make Roquan Smith their pick at number 10. It makes a lot of sense for the Raiders but if Smith is gone there hasn’t been the same reports lately that Edmunds would be their guy. There is also speculation that the Raiders could be in the market to trade down but it’s not a hot rumor and is based on a quarterback falling to 10 and a team such as the Bills if they haven’t moved up already or the Cardinals moving up as well.
Miami Dolphins
The latest on the Dolphins has Miami now more or less in the Vita Vea camp. There was rumors last week that have not been verified of a serious discussion between Adam Gase, Mike Tannenbaum, and Chris Grier about the direction Miami should go and apparently at least two of them are not seeing eye to eye.
When it comes to QB the Dolphins are still on the Josh Rosen/Baker Mayfield rumor train but it seems far too consistent to really think this is the Dolphins plans ahead of the draft. They are very committed to Ryan Tannehill and showcase him in their 2018 season media releases. Is that the smoke and mirror?
With only four days left until the daft we still have little clue as to what the Dolphins are really thinking about doing and who they may be targeting. For the record the same people saying Vea for Miami at 11 are the same who were hearing about the Dolphins love for Charles Harris late in the process last year as the draft grew closer.
SOURCES
These rumors are not sourced to any single individual as they are compiled from a wide range of mainstream media outlets and websites. No singular opinion or rumor was used from a single source of information.