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The signing of cornerback Zack Bowman will not preclude the Miami Dolphins from drafting a cornerback in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. What it does, however, is give the Dolphins the luxury of sticking by their draft board and selecting the best player available.
After six seasons with the Chicago Bears, Bowman helped solidify the New York Giants‘ secondary in 2014. He should step in and compete for the cornerback position opposite Brent Grimes. Bowman, who is entering his eighth season, will battle Will Davis, Jamar Taylor and Brice McCain for a starting role. McCain projects more as a slot corner, and the signing of Bowman gives the Dolphins flexibility to keep him inside.
In Chicago, Bowman showed glimpses of being a top corner. In his second season, Bowman started 12 games and finished with six interceptions, 10 passes defensed and a forced fumble. Since then he’s had spotty success, but started to come on when the Giants suffered injuries to their secondary in 2014. Bowman started five games and had two interceptions with six passes defensed. At 6-foot-1, 190, Bowman also provides the Dolphins with some much-needed size at cornerback, as Taylor, at 5-foot-11, was previously the tallest corner on the roster.
The Dolphins currently own the No. 14 overall selection in the draft and have needs at wide receiver, linebacker, offensive line, defensive tackle and cornerback. Many, including myself, had the Dolphins taking a corner with their first pick. Michigan State‘s Trae Waynes, Wake Forest‘s Kevin Johnson and Washington‘s Marcus Peters are three corners the Dolphins could consider if available at No. 14. LSU‘s Jalen Collins and Connecticut‘s Byron Jones are other possibilities, but they figure to have more value later in the first round or early in the second.
The addition of Bowman makes it less likely the Dolphins will have to reach to fill a need at cornerback. If the Dolphins love one of the top corners, they should take him. If they have a bunch of corners with similar grades, they should address another position and then possibly add some depth at corner with one of their remaining five selections.
Either way, the signing of Bowman should pay dividends for the Dolphins.
