Miami Dolphins

2017 NFL Draft: 5 First-Round Options for the Miami Dolphins

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:36 p.m. ET

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Taking a closer look at the Miami Dolphins draft with five potential first round targets in the 2017 NFL Draft

The NFL Scouting Combine is just around the corner and 2017 NFL Draft hype is in full swing. The Combine officially starts on Feb. 28, and with it will come a clearer picture for the NFL Draft. Before the combine starts, let’s take a look at the top 5 targets for the Miami Dolphins draft.

Though the Dolphins surprised most and made the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, they are a team with a few very glaring weaknesses. The defense was a thorn in Miami’s side all season long, particularly at the linebacker position. Depth also played a key factor in Miami’s poor defensive play, particularly in the defensive backfield.

The Dolphins offense, though much improved, isn’t without its flaws either. Particularly along the offensive line. To their credit, the line played much better in 2016 than I have seen them play in years. But there is room for improvement, and there are some talented options available in the draft.

If the Dolphins want to improve the offense and don’t want to invest in a lineman, the 2017 draft class is possibly the deepest I have ever seen at the tight end spot. Dion Sims came on late in the 2016 season, but a legitimate receiving threat at the position could do wonders for the development of Ryan Tannehill.

No matter what direction the Dolphins decide to go, no one can deny that the future is bright in South Beach. A solid draft this season could be the key to Miami returning to prominence in the NFL and once again becoming a perennial playoff team. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at my top-five first round targets for the Miami Dolphins in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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5. David Njoku, TE – Miami

Thanks to their first playoff berth in eight years, the Miami Dolphins pick later in the first round than most fans have gotten used to. With the 22nd pick in the first round, the Miami Dolphins will be making their latest first round pick since taking defensive end Jared Odrick with the 28th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

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The team has a lot of holes to plug, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. But with such a late selection, what does the team do if all their targets are already off the board? It’s an unlikely scenario, but one that could play out. Where do the Dolphins go then?

Do they reach for an offensive lineman? In a draft not particularly strong along the offensive line, if rising star Forrest Lamp has already heard his name called by 22, better value could be had in later rounds. Instead, they may find themselves addressing possibly the most glaring weakness in their offense, the tight end position.

Enter Miami’s stud David Njoku. The Dolphins have been searching for a playmaking tight end for years, and Njoku fits that description to a T. Njoku is a tremendously athletic kid, who has great acceleration and speed for someone his size (6-4, 245 pounds), and runs decent routes for a kid with only two years of experience at the position. I would be surprised to see the Dolphins go with tight end in the first round, but Njoku has the potential to be an All-Pro level player in the near future.

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4. Takkarist McKinley, EDGE – UCLA

Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake put to bed the concerns about how he would come back from a ruptured Achilles by turning in a performance that should have garnered Comeback Player of the Year recognition. But Wake is going to be nearly 36 years old by the end of next season.

The Mario Williams experiment in Miami was a resounding failure, and all signs point to him not being with the team next season. Fellow defensive end Andre Branch could leave the team in free agency. Though it’s not at the top of the list when it comes to positions of concern, the Dolphins would be foolish not to consider drafting an edge rusher.

Guys like Myles Garrett and Taco Charlton will likely be long gone by the time Miami picks at 22. Someone like Derek Barnett or Charles Harris will likely still be available, but for my money, the best value in the bottom half of the first round at the position is UCLA’s Takk McKinley.

McKinley is still a bit raw as a pass rusher, but he has all the physical tools to be dominant as a pass rusher at the next level. What makes him even more attractive as a prospect, though, is his versatility. McKinley is more capable than most pass-rush specialists in coverage. On a team in desperate need of linebackers, that kind of versatility should make defensive coaches drool. McKinley is quickly becoming one of my favorite defensive prospects in this draft.

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3. Forrest Lamp, OG – Western Kentucky

When the Miami Dolphins offensive line was good last season, it was very good. If you’ve watched the team closely over the past few seasons, that’s not something that can be said very often. When the line was at its healthiest, they were a force to be reckoned with. Jay Ajayi was free to run roughshod over opposing defenses. For the first time in his career, Ryan Tannehill had solid protection in front of him. It was an important step in the growth of the team under first year head coach Adam Gase.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, this wasn’t the norm for the 2016 season. Mike Pouncey missed a good chunk of the season with a re-aggravation of his hip injury. Who knows how healthy he’ll be next season, if he is at all. Jermon Bushrod was one of the lowest-rated guards this season, and is another year older. Branden Albert was knicked up throughout the year. The Dolphins need to get younger and more athletic on the line.

A name that is rocketing up draft boards thanks to a strong showing at the Senior Bowl is offensive lineman Forrest Lamp. Originally a tackle for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Lamp figures to bump inside at the next level, though he has the athleticism and traits to bump outside for spot starts, if necessary. He could even fill in at the center position in a pinch. For a team that needs depth and talent, Lamp is a huge check in both boxes.

Some teams may question the level of competition Lamp faced playing in Conference-USA, but he had a strong showing against the nation’s top team, Alabama, this season that should give evaluators enough reason to believe he can handle the bump in talent.

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2. Jarrad Davis, LB – Florida

It’s no secret that the biggest area of concern for the Miami Dolphins heading into the draft is the linebacker position. Linebackers take the top two spots in this list, and I think fans would be thrilled to have either one of these guys. Both exemplify what it takes to be a top-flight inside linebacker at the next level. So what is it that separates Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis and Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham?

Jarrad Davis absolutely looks the part of a stud NFL linebacker. He’s got prototypical size at 6-2 and nearly 240 pounds. He has long arms and a physique to go up against the best of them. Davis isn’t just a physical specimen, either. He is able to turn those physical traits into real on-the-field production.

Davis has great acceleration and potential as a pass-rushing specialist on the outside. He also is agile and fluid enough in his movements to be able to drop back and cover a tight end across the middle or a running back escaping in the flat. Choosing between the top two guys is really splitting hairs, but there are some cracks in Davis’ armor, so to speak.

The biggest negative that jumps out at me about Davis is questionable angles. Davis will occasionally misjudge the angle to the ball carrier and completely take himself out of the play. Injury may also be a concern for Davis. He suffered a leg injury early in the season that he attempted to play through, but a re-aggravation caused him to miss all or part of four games.

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1. Zach Cunningham, LB – Vanderbilt

That brings us to the top of my list for potential Miami Dolphins draft targets: Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham. With Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster likely to be a top-10 selection, Cunningham is my next best linebacker available, just slightly ahead of Davis.

Honestly, I don’t think the Dolphins could go wrong with either player. Both Cunningham and Davis have the potential to be superstars at the next level, perennial Pro-Bowl caliber players. For a team starved for talent at the position, this draft is chock full of potential, both in the first round and later on in the draft. So why take Cunningham in the first round?

Cunningham is a complete linebacker. I think he’s a better fit for what Miami will want to do with their defense. Both players are stellar linebackers, but I think that Cunningham is a better fit for a 4-3 inside linebacker, whereas Davis feels more like a 3-4 outside linebacker. I think both guys have the potential to fit in each scheme, but that feels like their natural breakdown.

Like Davis, Cunningham has all the tools to be a top-flight linebacker in the NFL, but I feel his instincts are just slightly better than Davis’. I don’t see as many poor angles when I watch Cunningham. I see a guy who flies around the field and makes plays on the ball from sideline-to-sideline. He’s fast and physical enough to be a force in the run game, and has the agility and speed to be a solid coverage option. He’s an all-around linebacker and should be the Dolphins top target come draft day.