Plenty of options for Dolphins
When Nick Saban prepared for his first NFL Draft, he had one glaring need and the comfort of knowing only one team was picking ahead of him.
That's a luxury the Miami Dolphins won't have Saturday.
In many ways, that's a good thing.
Because while Miami has definite voids to fill going into this year's draft, there isn't a position that looks as barren as the desert -- which the running back spot did in 2005.
Oh, there are needs. Miami could use a pass-rushing outside linebacker to play opposite Jason Taylor and a third wide receiver to give new quarterback Daunte Culpepper more firepower. Also, the Dolphins could use help on the offensive line and in the secondary -- be it a shut-down corner or a safety who can cover and intimidate.
At some point, the Dolphins would like a young quarterback to develop and a possible replacement for suspended runner Ricky Williams, as well.
Which way Saban chooses to go with that first pick could have a lot to do with what happens earlier in the opening round.
"I think everybody just needs to understand that we'll try to do whatever is best and brings the most value to our team," Saban said earlier this month. "That's whether you go up, you go down, you pick, who you pick. And those decisions have not been formulated. Some you control, some you don't control.
"There may be 25 players out there that we feel are potential guys that would be first-round picks, regardless of where we pick. We have to bring to some kind of organizational order, who brings the most value to us."
By staying at No. 16, Miami will have its choice of just about any cornerback or safety not named Michael Huff. There's also a good bet either Florida wide receiver Chad Jackson or Ohio State's Santonio Holmes will be available. Perhaps also the Florida State duo, linebacker Ernie Sims or defensive end/linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.
It's possible USC tackle Winston Justice, or Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler could fall that far as well.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, speaking on a conference call last week, believes the Dolphins will take a long look at either Ohio State safety Donte Whitner or Tennessee cornerback/safety Jason Allen.
"I think both those kids would be ideal for a team that needs a safety who can cover," Kiper said. "Whitner and Allen are ideal in terms of that area."
Given the number of impact players at the top of the draft, it's also conceivable the Dolphins would try to move up. Especially if a player they've fallen in love with is on the board, and the price is not too steep.
However, if Miami moves anywhere, it likely will be down. The team only has six picks in this year's draft -- three of them in round seven. The Dolphins sent their second-round pick to Minnesota for Culpepper, their fifth-round choice was used to take defensive tackle Manny Wright in the supplemental draft last year, and their sixth-round pick went to San Diego as part of the A.J. Feeley-for-Cleo Lemon quarterback swap.
Saban has said repeatedly he values having draft picks and bringing youth into the organization, so a trade down is not out of the question -- especially if the team is looking to draft a defensive back or a linebacker. That is assuming, of course, someone will be willing to pay Saban's price, whatever that may be.
"It depends on how far you want to move down," Kiper said. "If you want to go from 16 to, say 19, or 16 to 20 or whatever -- and teams will look to move up three or four spots at that point in the first round -- I think that's where you pick up that early second-day pick.
"That's where the third- or fourth-round pick comes into play. That's what you're looking to do at that point, get that third or fourth-round draft choice, depending on how far you move down."
However many picks the Dolphins wind up with, they hope to match the success of last year when they picked up three starters -- running back Ronnie Brown, linebacker Channing Crowder and cornerback Travis Daniels -- and two contributors, Wright and defensive end Matt Roth.
Drafts such as that help turn teams from 4-12 to 9-7, as Miami did last season. Let's see where the No. 16 pick leads them.
"Basically you're hopeful the player you have an opportunity to pick will offer the best value to the organization as well as be an impact guy at a place of need," Saban said. "But I think, especially when you're picking early, that bringing the guy that has the best value long-term will be most beneficial to the organization.
"I think it minimizes risk to some degree."
