Miami Dolphins Draft: What Should Miami Do in the First Round?

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With April 26 getting closer everyday, the NFL Combine already in the rear view mirror and free agency less than two weeks away, NFL teams are beginning to clarify their draft strategy.

Teams begin to think about trades, whether to move up or down, and begin to analyze top players more closely while determining if they fit their current needs.

For the Miami Dolphins, picking at No. 8 takes them out of range for landing a player at their position of most need—quarterback.

Miami has been linked to free-agent quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn and have also been linked as one of the teams that will talk trade with the Rams in order to draft Robert Griffin III.

With the quarterback position being the biggest question, what the Dolphins do at the position will determine what they do in the first round of the draft. If they sign a free agent, Miami will draft either a pass-rusher or an offensive lineman.

If they don't sign a free-agent quarterback, it is likely that the Dolphins will give up an arm and a leg to get Robert Griffin. So what should the 'Fins do with their first-round pick? 

Draft a Pass-rusher

Miami only has one pass-rusher on its roster—Cameron Wake. The retirement of Jason Taylor will really hurt this defense in terms of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, if Miami decides to draft a pass-rusher, this will greatly impact the overall quality of this defense.

With another pass-rusher, Cameron Wake will stop seeing as many double teams and will be able to have a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Aside from quarterback, this may be Miami's biggest need.

Players to Keep an Eye On

Melvin Ingram

Courtney Upshaw

Quinton Coples

Whitney Mercilus

Nick Perry

Draft an Offensive Lineman

This may not be a popular pick among Dolphins' fans, but it will surely help the Dolphins quarterback situation moving forward. Whether they start Matt Moore or another quarterback next season, Miami has to shore up the right side of the line in order for any quarterback to succeed.

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This is a good class of offensive lineman, which would allow Miami to wait until the second round to draft one, but let's not forget Jeff Ireland has surprised us all in recent years. 

Players to Keep an Eye On

Riley Reiff

Jonathan Martin

David DeCastro

Cordy Glenn

Mike Adams

Draft a Quarterback

This is clearly the biggest need for the Dolphins in order to be a playoff team. We may see Miami start a new quarterback next year, however, it is still unknown if it will be a free-agent signing or a rookie quarterback.

If Miami is unable to land a free-agent quarterback, they will turn their attention to the draft. Andrew Luck is out of the question, but there's still a chance to land Robert Griffin with the second pick. 

If Miami is going to draft a quarterback, they have to draft an NFL-ready quarterback, and there are only two this year. They can't afford to draft another project quarterback like Chad Henne.

Players to Keep an Eye On

Robert Griffin III

Ryan Tannehill 

Kirk Cousins

Brock Osweiller

Trade Up

The only reason the Miami Dolphins would trade up in the draft would be to take Robert Griffin III with the second pick.

Out of three teams (Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins) supposedly in the running for the Baylor quarterback, the Dolphins have the least chance of enticing the Rams to trade them the pick.

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Cleveland has two first-round picks this year, including the No. 4 pick, which would give the Rams a shot at drafting a player they really like. 

The Redskins have the No. 6 pick, which the Rams might also like.

But the Dolphins, with the No. 8 pick, have less to offer the Rams. They will have to offer a bigger package than either of these teams, which would make Dolphins' management a little hesitant. If they are able to make the move, the Dolphins will most likely solve their quarterback problems that have plagued them since Dan Marino retired in 1999.

Trade Down

This is another possibility the Dolphins have in case they are unable to move up to draft Griffin. Miami may feel that none of the players available at their current position are worthy of the pick and would rather accumulate more picks.

By trading down, the Dolphins might get a better value for a right tackle later in the first round while getting another second-round pick. They may also get a game-breaking pass-rusher later in the first round rather than getting that with the No. 8 pick.

Possible suitors for the Dolphins might include the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears or New York Jets. This would allow the Dolphins to remain in the top-20 spots in the first round while adding a second-round pick.

Miami Dolphins Draft: Melvin Ingram Would Be Perfect Fit

When combine workouts were over for the defensive linemen we knew two things: Dontari Poe can beat anyone in a foot race, and Melvin Ingram solidified himself as a top pick. Ingram went into the combine as one of the best defensive end prospects in this year's draft and didn't disappoint. 

We all knew Ingram was a great athlete, but many still wanted to see what he could do in combine drills. He was among the top performers in every drill and impressed during interviews. 

Ingram's combine numbers include:

40-yard dash: 4.79

Bench Press: 28

Vertical Jump: 34.5"

Broad Jump: 109.0"

3 Cone Drill: 6.83

20-Yard Shuffle: 4.18

Ingram proved why he deserves to be drafted at the top of the first round and would be a great addition both as a player, and as a teammate. He is humble and has a great work ethic that will transcend well with future teammates and coaches.

The Miami Dolphins will be running what is called a hybrid defense with new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle this upcoming season. They will implement both 3-4 and 4-3 sets and will need players with a lot of versatility. Melvin Ingram fits that mold.

Whether on the ground or standing up, Ingram will have a big impact in pass rushing, helping Cameron Wake get free and do what he does best. Without another pass-rusher, Wake will  get double-teamed on every play and opposing quarterbacks will have a field day with all the time they will have in the pocket. 

When the Dolphins run a four-man front, Ingram can put his hand on the ground and line up opposite Cameron Wake. When they run a three-man front, Ingram can stand up and play the outside linebacker position whether he's rushing the passer, or dropping into coverage.

This makes Ingram that much more valuable since he is capable of playing on every down. He could have a presence similar to that of Jason Taylor and would be the leader of the defense not too far in the future. Adding someone like Ingram would be a great first addition for head coach Joe Philbin and would have the Dolphins heading in the right direction.

This pick would be made easier if the Dolphins were able to get either Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn in free agency. There's also the thought of moving back to accumulate picks, but the Dolphins don't want to move too far back to the point where Ingram would be gone. It is vital for the organization to get this pick right and help the Dolphins return to their glory days.

Miami Dolphins Draft: Will the 'Fins Draft a Right Tackle or a Defensive End?

Early mock drafts had the Miami Dolphins taking either Jonathan Martin, offensive tackle out of Stanford, or Riley Reiff, offensive tackle out of Iowa. Lately though, most mock drafts have switched their picks for the Dolphins to defensive players, especially defensive ends.

This all began when Kevin Coyle was hired as defensive coordinator, and rumors began to surface that he is going to implement a 4-3 defensive scheme rather than the previously used 3-4. With the change, the Dolphins find themselves with only one pass-rusher at defensive end in Cameron Wake. The other defensive end position is up for grabs, and is expected to be filled through the upcoming draft.

The Dolphins could go either way with their first pick, but there's also a possibility that they can trade down or up, depending on the situation. If they are unable to land Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning, expect the 'Fins to try and outbid the Cleveland Brownsand the Washington Redskins for the second pick, and the rights to Robert Griffin III. The Dolphins also need to fill other big holes, which may push them to trade down and accumulate more picks.

If the Dolphins stay put at No. 8 or No. 9, would they take an offensive tackle or a defensive end? Let's take a look at some of the players that might be on the Dolphins' radar.

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram is a powerful and speedy defensive end that can constantly put pressure on the quarterback. His strength is pass-rushing, and he would be a great complement to Cameron Wake, who would stop seeing double teams on every down. Ingram can also play outside linebacker if needed, but is better suited to play with his hand on the ground.

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Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples has the prototypical body to play defensive end in the NFL. He has been compared to former Tar Heel Julius Peppers, and Coples is expected to have the same level of productivity. The knock on Coples is that he won't give you 100 percent on every play, but with good coaching, he can become a Pro Powler as soon as he wants. He would also be an excellent complement to Cameron Wake.

Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry has been linked to the Dolphins in recent drafts, and his stock is expected to rise from now until the draft. Perry has been flying under the radar until recently, but this may be a bit of a reach for the Dolphins. He's a good player, but is not in the same level as Coples or Ingram. If the Dolphins trade down in the draft, it would make more sense to take him then.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin had the toughest job in college football while he was at Stanford, when he was asked to protect Andrew Luck's blind side. He has the ability to play left tackle in the NFL, but would be asked to play on the right side of Miami's offensive line. This is a big plus for the Dolphins. Having two Pro Bowl-caliber tackles, a Pro Bowl-caliber center and two good guards, the Dolphins would solidify themselves as having one of the best offensive lines in the league.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is another player that projects as a starting-caliber left tackle in the NFL, but would also be asked to move to the right side. Reiff didn't have as tough a job as Martin, but he is a very sound tackle that rarely makes mistakes, and would help protect whoever is playing quarterback for the Dolphins.

Other players the Dolphins might look at:

Robert Griffin III

Courtney Upshaw 

Mark Barron 

David DeCastro