Team-by-Team Draft Review: Miami Dolphins

Zach Bahner Posted On July 8, 2015

parker

The Dolphins have been stuck in mediocrity since winning their division in 2008. Their best seasons since last making the playoffs have been the last two in which they’ve only gone 8-8 in each. Prior to the 2008 season, they hadn’t made the playoffs since 2001. This is a team who has needed revitalized for quite some time.

After an off-season where the Dolphins added big-name talent and cut or traded overpaid, under-producers, they were expected to be a mover and shaker on draft day. Rumors leading up to the draft had the Dolphins moving up to the Rams selection of #10 overall in order to select Todd Gurley or DeVante Parker. While the trade never happened, Parker was the selection at the team’s original pick of #14 overall – this started a draft where the Dolphins potentially filled holes on both the offense and defense.

DeVante Parker, WR
(Round 1, Pick 14 overall)

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When I started watching some of Parker’s games from the last two seasons, I expected to see he was a product of former teammate Teddy Bridgewater’s play. I was happy to learn it was not the case.

Parker is an electric player. He has good speed and acceleration to go with an absolutely fantastic ability to get off the line of scrimmage, often making defenders look silly when attempting to jam him. Not a player to shy away from contact, he doesn’t settle for just what the defense gives him. While he isn’t built as big as Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones, his 6’3”, 209 pound body is reminiscent of AJ Green and Larry Fitzgerald.

Parker will need to continue developing his route tree to become a premiere receiving threat in the league, but he has the dynamic ability to become the number one receiver the Dolphins have sorely needed since Chris Chambers left after the 2006 season.

There is some short term concern after having to have surgery to clean up some issues from a foot fracture he suffered in 2014. While he is expected to be ready for the start of the season, he will have missed most of the summer. Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings are likely to start the season as the top three receivers, but Parker should make his way into the starting lineup before the end of the year.

While his rookie production will probably leave much to be desired, his long term potential is high. Many have him ranked narrowly ahead of Nelson Agholor, but they are light years apart in current ability and upside. In my opinion, Parker projects to be the second best receiver from this rookie class with even higher upside than Amari Cooper. In two years, he will be a high end WR2 at the worst, unless something unforeseeable occurs. He’s a top four rookie pick in my mind.

Jay Ajayi, RB
(Round 5, Pick 149 overall)

While many mock drafters had Miami selecting Todd Gurley in the first round or one of a handful of other running backs in the top three rounds, the position was not addressed until the fifth round when Boise State’s Jay Ajayi came off the board. I personally think he is one of the most overhyped players in the draft. He was one of the draft community’s darlings and his fall to the latter part of the draft has been attributed to questions about the health of his knee – I think it was more about him simply not being that great of a back.

Most rookie running backs enter the league as poor pass blockers – Ajayi is an absolute liability. He also struggles in short yardage situations. Both of these things will relegate him to the bench on most third down opportunities, which is where many spell and situational backs get the majority of their looks. His elusiveness is a major attribute, but he often lacks it if he doesn’t see defenders coming much earlier than true elusive backs generally need to. He lacks some of the quickness which is needed for a back of his running style to succeed.

When looking at his size and speed (6’0”, 221 pounds and 4.57 second 40-yard dash) one would think he’s a potential every down back with top ten starter upside. I don’t see that in his future. If his knee is truly healthy, I think he could project to be an average timeshare or pass catching type of back if Lamar Miller is not brought back in 2016. As of right now, second year player Damien Williams does everything Ajayi can do, but better. Miller is in little risk of losing touches to either player.

While I am adamant he is not the back so many people think, there are some high points to Ajayi’s game. He’s an excellent pass catcher and will make defenders miss when there is some daylight between them. He can break some long runs with his better than average speed, too. At times he is a dominant force on tape, but those plays are overshadowed by mediocrity far too often. His inflated college stats are more of a product of a good offensive line and good scheme than an endorsement of his ability. Ajayi does need to be drafted in every rookie draft, but his ADP of 18.50 is too early. He’s a mid-third round rookie pick at best unless you really want to handcuff Miller.

Tony Lippett, WR
(Round 5, Pick 156 overall)

Lippett played both wide receiver and corner back at Michigan State, but all accounts have him playing corner with the Dolphins. They even announced the pick listing him as a corner. He’s listed here as a reminder to use your late round picks on players with higher likelihood of offensive production in non-IDP leagues.

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