Grading the Phins Draft

The long awaited draft weekend has ended, and after much speculation about nothing, we now know who the new Miami Dolphins are. Parcells, Ireland and Sparano went into the draft with the plan of attacking Miami's needs. Their draft strategy was simple, there is quality in quantities. While I trust this regime wholeheartedly, I disagree with some of the picks. Then again, I don't get paid millions of dollars to draft for any NFL franchise.

Entering the draft, Miami's biggest needs as analyzed by most were CB, WR, OLB, and NT. It's safe to say Miami addressed these needs, although not necessarily in the way that most of us wanted or predicted.

Miami had a weak secondary entering this draft. They addressed the cornerback position with not one but two stud players at the cornerback position. With their 25th pick, they drafted Vontae Davis, who has the best physical tools of any corner to come out of college in the past three years. They also drafted Seasn Smith with their 61st pick in the draft. Smith could be considered a steal, as many many mock drafts had him going in the first round. In addition, in the 5th round, Miami drafted FS Chris Clemons. Clemons is going to ensure that the safety position remains covered throughout the season. He was probably the best pick the Phins made in day 2.

The second position of weakness was wide receiver. It would be unreal to say that it wasn't addressed, because it was. Now, do I think that it was addressed properly? NO!! The Dolphins obviously could not have known or avoided the wide receiver run that took place during the late first round to the early second round. That run wiped Nicks, Britt, and Robiskie, and the other top receivers where gone since before the 25th pick. Since they couldn't take any of those receivers, they took back to back receivers in the 3rd and 4th rounds. That though, is not even what I criticize. I criticize who they took with those picks. The Dolphins took Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline. Now, I've done much scouting and analyzing of this draft, and I can honestly say that those guys would have easily been there during the 6th and maybe even the 7th round.

The third position of need, Outside Linebacker, was addressed in the 7th round. Yeah, the 7th round... I can't believe it either. Even more surprising, when the 7th round came along, I was surprised at the remaining prospects, and dared to get excited. Hell, Beckwith was there, so was Worrell Williams.. but noooo, they took JD Folsom... who??

The fourth position of need... wait, need? The front office doesn't seem to think so.

On the bright side, although I initially didn't like the pick, the Dolphins drafted Pat White. Now, after thinking alot about this pick, White might just be a great addition. He's going to play some Wide receiver, return some kicks, and take somewhere around 7-10 snaps at QB per game. That's not bad, especially if he becomes a successful utility player in the NFL, ala Antwaan Randle El.

Another couple of great picks were Chris Clemons and John Nalbone. Clemons addressed not only our future at safety but insurance at a poosition that lacked it. Nalbone is also not only insurance at the Tight end position, but someone whom the trifecta will groom, and now it doesn't force them to sign any of our two free agent tight ends next offseason if this kid comes along.

Overall, Miami's draft was not great, but it can be if just the two corners we selected pan out. We really don't know how well this draft really goes until 2-3 years down the line, and so, grading the teams picks, specially right now after having seen the players play ZERO NFL games, is pointless, but I'll do it anyways. My final grade for the Miami Dolphins 2009 NFL Draft is: C

2009 NFL Draft: Day 2

So we're done? Yes we're done! Day 2 had its ups and downs as a fins fan and someone who considers themselves somewhat knowledgeable about football, college football, and all the processes involved with both sports.

- Dolphins open the day by drafting 2 wide receivers, both of whom I haven't heard much of, while other "better" receivers according to experts were still on the board. Initially, I was disappointed, but after seeing that Patrick Turner caught 49 passes for 749 yards and 10 touchdowns for USC last season, I'm a bit more relieved. Brian Hartline will not be any more than a 4th receiver at the NFL level in my opinion, but he may be a great gunner in special teams.

- In the 5th round they went on to draft John Nalbone, TE from Monmouth. This guy was the beginning of a nice set of picks by Miami. Nalbone ranked in the top 5 in all his measurables as a tight end except his vertical. He is a cheap man's Pettigrew.

- Also in the 5th round, Miami addressed the secondary yet again in this draft by bringing to Miami the future at safety, Chris Clemons. Clemons won't be starting this year since we have two brilliant safeties, but he'll have a couple good players to learn from, and he can spell them every once in a while, or become a decent back up if one of them goes down.

- In the 6th round, Miami drafted Andrew Gardner, OT from Georgia Tech. This pick is more likely a project that anything else. Gardner has to be a quick tackle to have started at GT where they run the option a while lot. I don't think he will represent much more than a 3rd string tackle in Miami this season.

- With what became their last pick in the draft, Miami picked J.D. Folsom. Folsom is a linebacker from a small school who has the size that Parcells and company love. I dislike this pick simply because there were much better linebackers on the board that could have been drafted and likely actually pushed for a roster spot.

Overall: I liked just a couple of picks today, and felt like all the others were either reaches, or just didn't fit overall. I hope I'm wrong, I hope the picks pan out. Today though, I grade the dolphins with a D.