2011 Miami Dolphins Draft Needs
Written by Steve Janus
The Miami Dolphins didn’t come close to the season they had hoped for in 2010. They finished third in the AFC East with a record of 7-9, and a big reason for that was their 1-7 record at home.
The Dolphins will be looking to improve an offense that really struggled in 2010. The running game never got going, and quarterback Chad Henne took a step back in his second season as the starting quarterback.
Miami comes into the 2011 draft with the No. 15 pick in the first round, but are without a second round selection. They still have seven picks total, so they will have the opportunity to address a number of needs. Here is a look at the five positions I feel the Dolphins need to look at. Find out who we have the Dolphins taking in the first round in our 2011 NFL Mock draft.
Running Back: The duo of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams was a major bust in 2010. They combined for just seven touchdowns on the season, and are both free agents. Miami is in a prime spot at No. 15 to go after Mark Ingram of Alabama, but could also wait and take a shot on someone like Kendall Hunter of Oklahoma State with their third round pick.
Offensive Guard: Miami is set at the tackle position with Jake Long and Vernon Carey, but need to improve on the inside. They brought back Richie Incognito, who can play guard or center, but could use an upgrade at the other two starting spots. One player that could quickly make this unit better is Florida’s Mike Pouncey, but taking him at No. 15 would be a bit of a reach. Another option would be waiting till the fourth round to take TCU center Jake Kirkpatrick.
Quarterback: The Dolphins had hoped Henne would be the answer at quarterback, but after last season it doesn’t look like he is the long term solution. The only problem is the Dolphins aren’t in a very good spot to address this need in the draft. It’s unlikely they reach for Jake Locker of Washington or Ryan Mallett of Arkansas with their first round pick, which could force them to make a trade to upgrade this position.
Safety: The Dolphins’ secondary ranked just 20th against the pass, and a big reason for that was the lack of playmakers they have at the safety position. Chris Clemons isn’t the long term solution, and started losing time to rookie Reshad Jones at the end of the year. If the opportunity presents itself I look for Miami to add even more depth. Miami could go after Jaiquawn Jarrett of Temple or Joseph Lefeged of Rutgers with their third round pick.
Wide Receiver: The Dolphins went out and added Brandon Marshall before the start of the 2010 season, and he made a huge impact in his first season, catching 86 passes for 1,1014 yards. Davon Bess is a solid option out of the slot, but the Dolphins are looking for more speed to open up the field. If Miami decides to use their third round pick on a receiver, they could go after Titus Young of Boise State. With bigger needs at other positions it’s more likely the Dolphins use their fourth or fifth round pick to add depth here.
Individual NFL Team Mock Drafts
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