I Like What the Dolphins Accomplished in the Draft

Their first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick was an excellent pick. He was considered the best defensive back in this draft by a lot of draft experts and some mock drafts had him going in the top 5, but with 4 quarterbacks going in the top 10 some players were likely to slip, and Fitzpatrick fell to the Dolphins. The Dolphins were looking at potentially looking at one of the 4 quarterbacks either moving up or one fall to them, but neither happened instead the Dolphins went with best player available. Safety wasn’t a huge need, but if you listen to coach Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Matt Burke you could tell they were disappointed in the safety combination of TJ McDonald and Reshad Jones. Both are strong safeties and the Dolphins don’t have a true free safety that can play center field. McDonald is big enough to play linebacker and perhaps that’s where Miami could move him. Fitzpatrick doesn’t just play free safety, he can cover the slot receiver and tight ends, blitz off the side, and play over the top. He was the leader of the Alabama defense the last 3 years and started as a freshman which is amazing considering he plays for Nick Saban, who is as tough as they come, so he adds speed and versatility to the defense and speed was a major problem for the defense. Think about it when was the last time the Dolphins had a real free safety?? Probably Brock Marion. How all of the safeties play that’s the coaches job, but it’s hard not to like this pick.

The second round pick the Dolphins finally addressed their tight end position by taking Mike Gesicki. He is a big athletic tight end that Dolphins need. They haven’t had a true threat at tight end since Randy McMichael let’s be honest about that. I know he can’t block well, but neither does Jimmy Graham nobody cares if he makes plays and if he develops his blocking it’s a bonus. The Dolphins haven’t addressed the tight end position in the draft since 2014 with Dion Sims. Yes, they drafted Thomas Duarte in 2016, but he hasn’t touched the field. They tried free agents Jordan Cameron and Julius Thomas, but neither worked out. Cameron had concussion issues and Thomas had lost a step. The Dolphins have needed a tight end for years. It frustrated me last year they didn’t draft a tight end when there were lots of good tight ends in the draft and we passed. This should help open up the passing game more and make us more efficient in the red zone.

In the third round, the Dolphins added more depth at linebacker with Jerome Baker. Baker’s specialty is his coverage and he can help against the run. He’s fast and athletic but isn’t very big and like general manager Chris Grier said, “he’s the new age linebacker” and he’s right. He can help in pass coverage and also help on special teams. I don’t expect him to make the impact like Fitzpatrick and Gesicki, but he adds depth at linebacker and more speed and athleticism.

The Dolphins had 2 fourth round picks and they addressed more depth on offense on selecting tight end Durham Smythe and running back Kalen Ballage. Smythe is the opposite of Gesicki and is more of a blocker so he will be used on the line and h-back. He can catch the ball when needed. Basically, he is Anthony Fasano and I love that. Nowadays you both types of tight ends. Ballage adds depth at running back and probably won’t play a lot on offense, but more on special teams and work his way into the lineup. The guy scored 8 touchdowns in one game. Can run between the tackles with power, however, he was inconsistent with that, has the speed to return kicks, and can catch the ball out of the backfield good route runner so he’ll probably be liked when Kenyan Drake when he was drafted.

The second round pick the Dolphins finally addressed their tight end position by taking Mike Gesicki. He is a big athletic tight end that Dolphins need. They haven’t had a true threat at tight end since Randy McMichael let’s be honest about that. I know he can’t block well, but neither does Jimmy Graham nobody cares if he makes plays and if he develops his blocking it’s a bonus. The Dolphins haven’t addressed the tight end position in the draft since 2014 with Dion Sims. Yes, they drafted Thomas Duarte in 2016, but he hasn’t touched the field. They tried free agents Jordan Cameron and Julius Thomas, but neither worked out. Cameron had concussion issues and Thomas had lost a step. The Dolphins have needed a tight end for years. It frustrated me last year they didn’t draft a tight end when there were lots of good tight ends in the draft and we passed. This should help open up the passing game more and make us more efficient in the red zone.

In the third round, the Dolphins added more depth at linebacker with Jerome Baker. Baker’s specialty is his coverage and he can help against the run. He’s fast and athletic but isn’t very big and like general manager Chris Grier said, “he’s the new age linebacker” and he’s right. He can help in pass coverage and also help on special teams. I don’t expect him to make the impact like Fitzpatrick and Gesicki, but he adds depth at linebacker and more speed and athleticism.

The Dolphins had 2 fourth round picks and they addressed more depth on offense on selecting tight end Durham Smythe and running back Kalen Ballage. Smythe is the opposite of Gesicki and is more of a blocker so he will be used on the line and h-back. He can catch the ball when needed. Basically, he is Anthony Fasano and I love that. Nowadays you both types of tight ends. Ballage adds depth at running back and probably won’t play a lot on offense, but more on special teams and work his way into the lineup. The guy scored 8 touchdowns in one game. Can run between the tackles with power, however, he was inconsistent with that, has the speed to return kicks, and can catch the ball out of the backfield good route runner so he’ll probably be liked when Kenyan Drake when he was drafted.