NFL Miami Dolphins

2015 NFL Draft: Too-Early Miami Dolphins 7-Round Mock

2015 NFL Draft: Too-Early Miami Dolphins 7-Round Mock

Dennis Hickey, Miami Dolphins, 2015 NFL Draft
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins don't have the benefit of building through free agency anymore due to their lack of cap space. Luckily for them, general manager Dennis Hickey is in town now and has a knack of finding great players via draft. Here's a too-early mock at what the Dolphins need to do to continue building for their future.

1st Round, 14th Overall: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington

Shaq Thompson
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

1st Round, 14th Overall: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington

Shaq Thompson
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Is he a linebacker, running back, safety, or all the above? Thompson won the award for most versatile player in the country this past season, and deservedly so, as not too many people rush for 450+ yards and record 70+ tackles in a single season. Expect Thompson to play OLB in whatever type of defense Miami runs next season.

2nd Round, 47th Overall: OG Josue Matias, Florida State

Josue Matias
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

2nd Round, 47th Overall: OG Josue Matias, Florida State

Josue Matias
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Miami is set at the tackle spots with Branden Albert and JaWuan James, but their guard position is weak. Even Mike Pouncey had an off year, as he was moved to guard from center. Matias hasn’t missed a game since taking over as a sophmore in 2012, being a key cog in their 29-game winning streak. He’d be an immediate upgrade over anyone but Pouncey on day one.

3rd Round, 78th Overall: S Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Kurtis Drummond
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3rd Round, 78th Overall: S Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Kurtis Drummond
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The safety position could be the thinnest position once March comes around. Jimmy Wilson, Don Jones and Louis Delmas shouldn’t be around and word is rookie Walt Aikens may have caused himself a roster spot due to disciplinary issues. Any safety, especially one with the ball-hawking skills like Drummond, could be starting opposite Reshad Jones week one.

4th Round, 111th Overall: WR Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas

Dezmin Lewis
Getty Images

4th Round, 111th Overall: WR Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas

Dezmin Lewis
Getty Images

Miami lacks size at the wide receiver position. Heck, they may have no wide receivers if Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson and Mike Wallace are let go. Lewis is a 6-foot-4 threat and is a similar athlete to rookie Martavis Bryant in Pittsburgh. Ryan Tannehill would love a threat on the outside to help solve their league-worst ranking down in the red zone. Look for him to shine in the Senior Bowl on January 24.

5th Round, 142nd Overall: QB Sean Mannion, Oregon State

Sean Mannion
Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports

5th Round, 142nd Overall: QB Sean Mannion, Oregon State

Sean Mannion
Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the 2014 season, Mannion was regarded as one of the best passers in the nation. Fast forward to today and hardly anybody is talking about him due to a lack of (not bad) production this season. One team will benefit by drafting him low and developing him, something Miami needs to do in case Matt Moore decides to leave.

6th Round, 175th Overall: DT Brandon Ivory, Alabama

Brandon Ivory
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

6th Round, 175th Overall: DT Brandon Ivory, Alabama

Brandon Ivory
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Ivory plays nose tackle for Nick Saban in Alabama and Miami (right now) is in a 4-3. Head coach Joe Philbin needs to bring in a defensive coordinator that will run a 3-4 to better suit Dion Jordan. If that does indeed happen, then Ivory is a guy that can clog the middle of the line, something the Dolphins failed to do in the latter half of the season with their smaller defensive tackles.

7th Round, 207th Overall: LB Mike Hull, Penn State

Mike Hull
Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

7th Round, 207th Overall: LB Mike Hull, Penn State

Mike Hull
Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Hull is a slightly-less talented version of former Wisconsin Badger ILB Matt Borland. Like Borland, though, Hull has suffered some nagging injuries during his collegiate career, but his instincts are hard to pass up when he’s on the field. He may shoot up draft boards by the time April comes around.

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471 and connect with him on Google.

Share Tweet