Miami Dolphins rookies could have a huge impact in 2018
By Brian Miller
Over the last decade Miami Dolphins rookies have had little impact in their first season but that could change considerably in 2018 with this group.
The Miami Dolphins are doing much better at drafting football players but there are still lingering questions about many of them. For example, is Charles Harris, last years first round pick ready to make an impact after a rather quiet rookie season?
Over the last five years the Dolphins have made Dion Jordan, Ja’Wuan James, DeVante Parker, Laremy Tunsil, and Harris their first round draft picks. Jordan was a bust, James has gotten a lot better, Parker is still expected to “break-out” at any moment, and Tunsil is entering a critical year.
All of the first round picks have played significant snaps except Jordan and Harris. Harris was behind some pretty good defensive ends in 2017 however.
This year it’s Minkah Fitzpatrick’s turn to get on the field and make a difference. He needs to. Miami has to get top production out of Fitzpatrick this year. Especially given the controversy of draft day when Stephen Ross questioned the selection openly in the draft room. Fans should expect to see a lot of Fitzpatrick this year.
The question is where do you play him? He is a safety, corner, and nickel-back. He can cover TE’s and running backs and can make plays everywhere. But Miami has two starting safeties in Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald. They have a solid group of upcoming corners, more on them in a minute, and Bobby McCain, who plays nickel, was just signed to an extension. Defensive coordinator Matt Burke will have to figure this one out.
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How Burke uses Fitzpatrick will be interesting but Fitzpatrick could have a major impact on the 2018 season and should see plenty of opportunities to make that happen.
In 2017 the Dolphins drafted Cordrea Tankersley a year after they drafted Xavien Howard. Both former 3rd and 2nd round picks look to be cornerstone pieces in the Dolphins secondary. Last season Howard stepped up and became a very solid corner down the stretch of the season and Tankersley appeared to be moving in the right direction as well.
The Dolphins have had much more success with their 2nd round draft picks in the last five years with Howard, Jordan Phillips, and Jarvis Landry among them. While Landry is gone and Jamar Taylor was moved to Cleveland after being drafted in 2013, it really is last years 2nd round pick that could have biggest impact on the Dolphins defensive unit.
Raekwon McMillan looked like a huge steal in training camp jumping from a back-up to a starter to kick-off training camp. McMillan had a phenomenal camp but his season ended on the first play of the teams first pre-season game.
Getting McMillan back in 2018 is like having another rookie but McMillan spent his rookie season studying film and watching how things were done. He has already become a leader on the field and showcased that leadership during mini-camps and OTA’s this past off-season.
McMillan could be a major spark for the defense and paired with Fitzpatrick in some capacity may make the Dolphins defense a lot better than most assume. But it’s the 2nd round pick on offense that people are watching.
It was no surprise that the Miami Dolphins made tight-end a priority in the 2nd round. Almost universally mock drafts predicted Miami would go TE in round two and they did. The question was whom.
Gesicki is the prototype modern-era pass catching tight-end. His ability to run routes and use his body to shield defenders is NFL level but his blocking needs a lot of improvement. Gesicki could emerge as the favorite target for Ryan Tannehill who now finds himself swimming with receiver talent.
In recent seasons Tannehill had Parker, Kenny Stills, and Jarvis Landry to go along with the underperforming talents at tight-end. Now he has a player who should be a major improvement at tight-end to go with Danny Amendola, Albert Wilson, Parker, and Stills but he may have another weapon as well.
Miami wasn’t sitting on their hands during last April’s draft. Knowing there were hang-ups in Gesiciki’s blocking, they drafted Durham Smythe in round four. Smthye is a very solid in-line blocker but he wasn’t asked to run routes much at Notre Dame. That dropped his draft stock but in reality, he has the capability of being a solid receiver who is more of an Anthony Fasano type. This too could bode well for the Dolphins offense and Smythe could see plenty of playing time.
The list of Dolphins rookies who could impact the 2018 roster doesn’t end with Smythe. Third round draft pick Jerome Baker is expected to impact special teams and provide valuable linebacker depth as he gets acclimated to the NFL.
Kalen Ballage will be the third running back on the roster but many believe will be the opening starter on special teams as a return man. The Dolphins are also hoping that 7th round pick Quentin Poling will impact special teams and provide depth at linebacker as well.
Special teams are important and this year the Dolphins will have kicking competition from two rookies, Jason Sanders the teams second 7th round pick and undrafted rookie Greg Joseph.
Overall the Dolphins should expect a lot of contributions from their rookie class in 2018 and the fans should expect that as well. This could be one of the best rookie classes for the Dolphins in a very long time.