When you peruse a listing of the Dolphins’ second- and third-round picks in the course of the previous 10 years, it turns into a bit extra clear why the franchise has hovered across the .500 mark for many of that point.
Overall, it’s been a mean to barely above common crew, simply because the Dolphins have been throughout that stretch. There hasn’t been sufficient of a wow issue amongst these choices.
The Dolphins, whose first three picks within the April 27-29 draft are a second-rounder and a pair of third-rounders, must hit on at the very least one starter amongst these picks, and it’d be good if one of many different two was an everyday contributor from scrimmage.
Finding such gamers is among the many Dolphins’ many duties at this week’s Senior Bowl practices on the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., and Saturday’s Senior Bowl recreation. In addition to scouting gamers on the sector, the Dolphins additionally get to interview gamers, an necessary element of the draft course of.
Among the 21 gamers the Dolphins chosen within the second and third rounds within the final 10 years, two — cornerback Xavien Howard and large receiver Jarvis Landry — have earned a Pro Bowl berth with the Dolphins.
Roughly half of the 21 have been thought of starters sooner or later throughout their time with the Dolphins, which is OK.
But 11 of the 21 second- and third-round picks of the final 10 years didn’t dwell as much as their draft standing, or haven’t but lived as much as their draft standing.
If these picks got a letter grade they’d get a C or C+.
The second- and third-round picks of the previous 10 years embrace many success tales along with Howard (second spherical, 2016) and Landry (second spherical, 2014).
There’s security Jevon Holland (second spherical, 2021), guard/deal with Robert Hunt (third spherical, 2020), security Brandon Jones (third spherical, 2020), tight finish Mike Gesicki (second spherical, 2018) and linebacker Jerome Baker (third spherical, 2018).
Gesicki appears more likely to depart by way of free company, however Holland, Hunt and Jones have Pro Bowl potential, and Baker has been an above-average starter for his profession.
Those are all robust picks.
There’s additionally a handful of second- and third-round picks from the previous 10 years that have been first rate gamers for the Dolphins, and that group consists of linebacker Raekwon McMillan (second spherical, 2017), defensive deal with Jordan Phillips (second spherical, 2015) and working again Kenyan Drake (third spherical, 2016).
But a lot of the second- and third-round picks want enchancment, or wanted enchancment, and that checklist consists of linebacker Channing Tindall (third spherical, 2022), guard/deal with Liam Eichenberg (second spherical, 2021), tight finish Hunter Long (third spherical, 2021), defensive deal with Raekwon Davis (second spherical, 2020), guard Michael Deiter (third spherical, 2019), cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (third spherical, 2017), large receiver Leonte Carroo (third spherical, 2016), guard/deal with Billy Turner (third spherical, 2014), cornerback Jamar Taylor, guard/deal with Dallas Thomas (third spherical, 2013) and cornerback Will Davis (third spherical, 2013).
“Liam showed some really good signs of playing well for stretches after adjusting to the system and being asked to do stuff he had never done before,” basic supervisor Chris Grier mentioned throughout his season wrapup information convention.
In this yr’s second and third rounds, the Dolphins could possibly be taking a look at offensive tackles, cornerbacks and linebackers. Perhaps they have a look at guards or tight ends, relying on what occurs in free company. The second and third rounds is likely to be too excessive for the Dolphins to draft a working again, particularly if each Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. return.
The shocker of a decide in that vary can be a quarterback to again up starter Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins will want a second-team quarterback if veteran Teddy Bridgewater departs by way of free company, however there’s nearly no probability it’s a rookie, particularly contemplating they drafted quarterback Skylar Thompson within the seventh spherical final yr. It’s nearly a certainty the Dolphins will go for a veteran backup quarterback.
The Dolphins have been OK with their second- and third-round picks over the last 10 years, however persevering with to do OK isn’t a path to the Super Bowl.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com