Dolphins Picks will be Hit or Miss Based on Their Development
The Miami Dolphins wrapped up the third day of the draft by selecting players at positions of need that were graded at the top of THEIR draft board.
The Dolphins traded up in the fifth round to get OG Isaac Asiata, and then finished the day by adding DT Davon Godchaux, DT Vincent Taylor, and WR Isaiah Ford.
The trade-up for Asiata was because they had a third to fourth-round grade on him and needed to add to their stable of Guards. It’s a good–and much needed–move. So instead of sitting back and waiting, the Dolphins made a deal with their buddies from Philadelphia. Asiata is going to get every opportunity to compete for one of the starting Guard positions in camp.
He’s a true mauler in the run game and does an excellent job pulling, but his main weakness comes in sloppy technique in pass protection and an over-aggressive nature in a run block that allows defenders to take advantage. Asiata has work to do to earn a starting role, but the belief is Jermon Bushrod and Ted Larsen are starting Guards, so the pressure on Asiata to start right away is minimal. The other positive thing about this pick is that Asiata has played multiple positions along the O-line throughout his career at Utah. Miami loves its linemen to have flexibility.
Miami had need and character as major rationals for these picks
With their other 5th round pick, Miami decided to finally address the Defensive Tackle position by selecting LSU DT Godchaux. Godchaux was a productive player for a good defense. Last year he totaled 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for a loss last season. He has some speed for a big man of 6’3”, 310 pounds, and is explosive at the point of attack. The main knock on him is that he needs to be more consistent and better against the run.
Then in the 6th round, the Dolphins doubled down on DT–which I thought was a nice move–and selected Oklahoma State DT Taylor. Most NFL football analysts and best pay per head reviews believe Taylor could be a sleeper pick and had him graded as a 4th to 6th round pick, so Miami got some value drafting him late in the 6th round. He’s the same size as Godchaux, 6’3”, 310 pounds, but might be even a touch stronger and faster–although Taylor cut high, which leads him to lose leverage. Last year, he was a junior that totaled 51 tackles, 7 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 pass broken up.
These picks have development as major obstacles to their success
I really like these two DT picks, because, at the moment, we only have Suh, Phillips, and Warmsley as DT’s. And besides Suh, the other two guys are huge question marks. Many believe this is a make or break year for Phillips. If he can find a way to play more consistent then he should be fine and be able to be a quality player beside Suh. However, if he can’t, his days in Miami are probably numbered. Miami has said they believe in Phillips, but they just drafted two DT’s, so this much-needed competition for the DT position appears a warning. This should be a great motivational tool for Phillips.
Lastly, the Dolphins used their 7th round pick on slot wide receiver Ford from Virginia Tech. He was projected to be a 3rd to 4th round pick; however, he dropped because he ran much slower than expected at the combine. He ran a 4.61 40 yard dash, which is on the slow side for 195 pounds. Considering that Landry ran his 40 even slower, I don’t think this should be the make or break for any player. He was super productive during his three years at VT, amassing 210 receptions, 2,967 yards, and 24 touchdowns.
Only time will tell if these picks were good ones
Ford is going to have a tough time even making the roster since Miami is pretty deep at the receiver position. But it’s a good value pick, despite Miami being at a stacked position. On a side note, I wonder, is Miami getting a little worried that they may have a problem agreeing to contract terms with Landry? Is this a bit of insurance? I hope not, because Landry is irreplaceable, and Miami seriously needs to lock him down for the foreseeable future. Landry is the heart and soul of this team, and on pace to become a Hall of Fame player.
All in all, Miami had a productive third day in the draft, filling out the rest of their needs. These players are not going to be asked to start on day one, but I think there is definitely upside for Asiata and that one of the Defensive Tackles to get some snaps this season. Asiata potentially could end up the starter this season, or even more likely in 2018. What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans’ thoughts about our Day three draft picks?
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