Crazily Early Draft Thoughts

[Dolphster]

Yeah, so I know it is too early to talk draft when Free Agents are still lurking out there.  But I'm such a geek on the draft that I have to start an admittedly premature draft thread.  All comments are retractable, pending free agent signings.   

Rd 1, Pick 22    None of the OLBs in the draft really blow me away.  But it is still such an urgent need that I think the Fins really need to address it in the first round.  I dig TJ Watt.  For one thing, ya have to like the family genetics and I would assume that TJ would have at least some of the tenacity, love of the game, etc. that his big brother has.  If no other OLBs are taken early in the first round, the Fins could possibly trade down a few spots and still get TJ Watt. 

Rd 2, Pick 54   My dream would be that Forrest Lamp (WKU) is still there, but if not, I also like Dan Feeney.  Quite possible that they are both gone by Pick 54, but one can always hope.  I think either of them could step in and start ahead of Larsen or Bushrod by the time the regular season starts. 

Rd 3, Pick 97   Thankfully, this draft is WAY deep with DBs because DB is still a sizeable need for this team.  Because of that depth at this position in the draft, I think that a Safety with Round 2 skills could easily still be available in Round 3.  Evans from Texas A&M is really good at coming up to defend the run which would be a big help given how bad the run defense was last year.  He might be gone though since the "experts" have him going anywhere from Round 3 all the way up to Round 1.  A really good all around Safety would be Marcus Williams from Utah.  Solid in coverage and against the run, but he just needs to add some muscle weight to play at a high level in the NFL. 

Rd 5, Pick 166   Although it isn't a huge need for the Fins, RB depth in this draft is crazy good.  So I would take a flyer on an RB just because with such depth at the RB spot in the draft, a really good RB could still be there by Rd 5.  Especially since RBs aren't valued anywhere nearly as highly as they used to be in the draft.

With the two other Rd 5 picks and the Rd 6 pick, who knows.  I guess just pick the guys you have rated the highest that are still available then, regardless of position.  Another body to try on the Defensive Line would be good. 

Have at it everybody.  Feel free to share your own thoughts, make fun of mine, etc. 

[Phishfan]

I'll be honest, I don't follow draft prospects nearly as much as others on the board. It is such a crapshoot that the only bigger risk I think is national signing day (which I know others here also put too much stock in). That said, I like your thoughts. OLB is a need but with the Timmons signing, I expect Alonzo is taking an OLB spot so maybe it isn't as big a need as originally thought. With that idea, I'm not sure how to address the first pick but with whatever fits our many holes the best.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

With the 22nd pick, Fins go local and draft  Justin Vogel.

[Sunstroke]

Since last season ended, I have done at least 100 full 7-round mocks for Miami...likely double that for SF. I love playing the "If I were the GM..." game.

Forrest Lamp is pretty much always gone within the first few picks of round two in the mocks I've done, but if wishing a little could get him to drop, I am all for it.

I think ILB is a bigger need than OLB, so I'd prefer to wait on an edge rusher until after Miami gets the OG and ILB slots taken care of. I do like TJ Watt, but think it may be a stretch (imo) to select him at #22.

[Baba Booey]

Lamp will be gone between pick 15-32. No way he gets to Rd 2

Trading down in Rd 1 is likely if Taco Charlton and Zach Cunningham are already gone by pick 22

[BuccaneerBrad]

Lamp will be gone between pick 15-32. No way he gets to Rd 2

Trading down in Rd 1 is likely if Taco Charlton and Zach Cunningham are already gone by pick 22

Charlton may drop to late in the first round.   He's slow getting off his blocks and his speed and quickness won't compensate at this level.   A lot of times at Michigan, he made plays because of his hustle.  That will never work in the NFL

[Dolphster]

I'll be honest, I don't follow draft prospects nearly as much as others on the board. It is such a crapshoot that the only bigger risk I think is national signing day (which I know others here also put too much stock in). That said, I like your thoughts. OLB is a need but with the Timmons signing, I expect Alonzo is taking an OLB spot so maybe it isn't as big a need as originally thought. With that idea, I'm not sure how to address the first pick but with whatever fits our many holes the best.

Good point about Timmons helping.  I've always like the potential of Koa Misi, but at this point I fear that durability issues just make him less than dependable.  Of course, having said that, every NFL player is just one unfortunate injury away from having their career over. 

[Dolphster]

Lamp will be gone between pick 15-32. No way he gets to Rd 2

Trading down in Rd 1 is likely if Taco Charlton and Zach Cunningham are already gone by pick 22

Yeah, I doubt Lamp will be there by the Fins 2nd round pick, but a guy can always dream.  Maybe someone will leak a video of him banging away on a bong while wearing a gas mask.  That worked out pretty well for us last year.   

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Since last season ended, I have done at least 100 full 7-round mocks for Miami...likely double that for SF. I love playing the "If I were the GM..." game.

So what do you do? Get together with 31 other people and basically have a FF draft? 

[Dolphster]

With the 22nd pick, Fins go local and draft  Justin Vogel.

No way he is still there at #22.  Maybe the Dolphins could package their 1st round pick and their 2nd round pick to move up into the top 10 to get a shot at Vogel.   

[Sunstroke]

So what do you do? Get together with 31 other people and basically have a FF draft? 

No, I use the site Fanspeak.com. They have a mock draft tool called "On the Clock" that allows you to draft for your team, and the computer will draft for the others. The premium version allows you to send and receive draft pick trade offers. You can choose from "Big Boards" with different player rankings from CBS, Bleacher Report or about a dozen other options.

[mecadonzilla]

I love Lamp.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gId6nrMDmUU

[Dolphster]

No, I use the site Fanspeak.com. They have a mock draft tool called "On the Clock" that allows you to draft for your team, and the computer will draft for the others. The premium version allows you to send and receive draft pick trade offers. You can choose from "Big Boards" with different player rankings from CBS, Bleacher Report or about a dozen other options.

Thanks for the heads up on Fanspeak.  I messed around with that for about an hour last night and thought it was fun.

[Sunstroke]

Thanks for the heads up on Fanspeak.  I messed around with that for about an hour last night and thought it was fun.

If you ever want to waste an hour or so, do the "Manage The Cap" free agency tool first, then when you're finished with free agency, use the "On the Clock" tool to draft rookies. Gives ya a good feel for dealing with salary cap issues, positional values, etc...it's pretty fun stuff. ')

[Dolphster]

Since I started this thread a week ago, Lamp has shot up the projected draft rankings like crazy.  Now I would take him in the first round in a heartbeat.  Hell, he may even be gone by pick #22.  Crazy since two weeks ago, most were projecting him as a late First Round to Second Round pick.