Potential edge rushing DE/LB’s for the Miami Dolphins in the draft
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins need defensive end help and they need pass rushers who can get to a quarterback. This years NFL Draft could provide that.
For the Miami Dolphins edge rushers are a top concern with only Charles Harris and Tank Carradine set to start on the outside. The Dolphins opted to get younger and traded Robert Quinn and allowed Cameron Wake to leave in free agency. They will not re-sign William Hayes either, at least not until after the draft.
There are three types of players that Miami will need to look at in this class. There are those players that Miami will not have a chance to get. Those are the top guys that will be long gone before the Dolphins are on the clock at 13.
There are a bunch of 2nd tier guys that could be available at 13 and more importantly could be available later in the draft is the Dolphins decide to trade down in round one. Finally there are the deeper guys that are mid-round projects. The Dolphins should be looking at rounds 2-4 projects should they not go with an edge rusher in round one.
Top tier
Nick Bosa – Ohio State
Josh Allen – Kentucky
Neither player will be available when the Dolphins pick but stranger things have happened on draft day. It is impossible to think that either could start to fall but even if they did, it would only be a couple of spots. There is simply too much talent to pass up.
Tier two
Montez Sweat – Mississippi St.
Brian Burns – FSU
Rashan Gary – Michigan
Clelin Ferrell – Clemson
Of these four I like Ferrell the most. He is a physical player who plays tough, fast, and even a little violent. Something that head coach Brian Flores says he want’s his team to be. Ferrell is a perfect fit for the Dolphins and is coming off a National Championship victory. Miami could drop a few spots down the draft board in round one and still get him.
Montez Sweat is all over the draft boards right now. He is a top 10 in some and a top 15 to 20 in others. The issue is a heart condition that was discovered during his combine physical. Some believe he will be gone by 13 others think he will last a bit longer.
Tier three
Jaylon Ferguson – La. Tech
L.J. Collier – TCU
Jachai Polite – Florida
These players are likely to go in the 2nd round or the third potentially but they have first round talent. Other issues are keeping them from being drafted higher. The Dolphins would get a steal if they got any of these players in round three.