Louisville's 6-foot-3, 209-pound wide receiver DeVante Parker, taken No. 14 overall, should be a go-to target for Tannehill. Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Without trading to move up as they expected, the Miami Dolphins found a big target in the first round to help quarterback Ryan Tannehill and then did a good job filling other needs in last week’s draft.
Louisville’s 6-foot-3, 209-pound wide receiver DeVante Parker, taken No. 14 overall, should be a go-to target for Tannehill on an offense that also received help in the draft in Arizona State guard Jamil Douglas (Rd. 4/114 overall) and dazzling, but medically suspect, running back Jay Ajayi (Rd. 5/149) from Boise State.
Overall, the Dolphins added mostly to their secondary as the seven draftees included two cornerbacks, one safety along with the running back, guard, a defensive tackle, and that big wide receiver.
Parker will join a wide-receiver crew than includes veteran Greg Jennings and youngsters Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills. The Dolphins also feature tight end Jordan Cameron among their pass-catching players.
Parker’s strength is his ability to go up and aggressively get the ball. But he says his added value comes in added yards — his ability to get yards after catch.
“That is probably my best attribute that I have,” Parker said. “I believe I can get up field, north and south.”
The Dolphins get their young players together for the first time in this weekend’s rookie minicamp. Here is a closer look at Miami’s revised team for 2015:
2014 RECORD: 8-8, 3rd in AFC East
COACH: Joe Philbin
4th season as Dolphins/NFL head coach
23-25 overall
2015 CAMP SCHEDULE
Rookie minicamp: May 8-10
OTA dates: May 26-27, May 29 June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 16-18
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
(Rookies in capitals)
Offense:
WR: K. Stills, D. PARKER, M. Hazel, T. Mcdonald
Slot: J. Landry
LT: B. Albert
LG: D. Thomas, J. DOUGLAS, S. Brenner
C: M. Pouncey, J. Walton, J. Mcclendon
RG: B. Turner, J. Linkenbach
RT: J. James, J. Fox, M. Asper
TE: J. Cameron, D. Sims, G. Robinson, A. Lynch, R. Taylor, J. Stoneburner
WR: G. Jennings, R. Matthews, M. Preston, L. Byrd
QB: R. Tannehill, M. Moore, J. Freeman, M. Bethel-Thompson
RB: L. Miller, D. Williams, L. James, M. Gillislee, J. AJAYI
Defense:
LDE: C. Wake, D. Shelby, E. Dieke
LDT: A. Johnson, J. PHILLIPS, K. Johnson
RDT: E. Mitchell, A. Francis, D. Coleman
DT: N. Suh
RDE: O. Vernon, T. Fede
WLB: J. Jenkins, S. Paysinger, J. Tripp
MLB: K. Misi, J. Knott, K. Sheppard
SLB: C. Mccain
LCB: B. Grimes, J. Taylor, S. Seamster
SS: R. Jones, W. Aikens, S. Gary
FS: L. Delmas, J. Kovacs, C. THOMPSON, D. Jones, D. Thomas
RCB: W. Davis, Z. Bowman, T. LIPPETT
N-CB: B. Mccain, B. MCCAIN
Special Teams:
P: B. Fields
PK: C. Sturgis
LS: J. Denney
H: B. Fields
KO: C. Sturgis
PR: J. Landry, R. Matthews, B. Grimes
KR: J. Landry, D. Williams
GRADING THE DRAFT — B plus
Per Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Miami explored trading up into the top 10 to land a dynamic receiver, but ultimately didn’t have to as DeVante Parker slid to the Dolphins at No. 14 overall. Parker’s length, speed, body control and huge catch radius make him a potential No. 1 target for Ryan Tannehill in Bill Lazor’s aggressive passing attack, and fifth round pick Tony Lippett could surprise as well (whether at receiver or cornerback). Jay Ajayi’s knee is a concern but he has franchise-back talent. Jordan Phillips and Jamil Douglas are potential future starters along the line of scrimmage.
SCOUTING ALL DRAFT PICKS
–Round 1/14 – DeVante Parker, WR, 6-3, 209, Louisville
This pick was the best the Dolphins made all weekend. It might have been a good combination of best player available and fitting a need. He’s aggressive, physical and has good hands. He’ll definitely help immediately.
–Round 2/52 – Jordan Phillips, DT, 6-5, 330, Oklahoma
There’s a lot of questions about this pick because many scouts have doubted Phillips’ work ethic. Miami might have reached here even when going on the best player available theory. Miami was already OK at defensive tackle, and now they have another.
–Round 4/114 – Jamil Douglas, G, 6-4, 300, Arizona State
Douglas fits a need and that’s a good thing for a team that needed two starting guards. It’s unclear whether Douglas will be able to step in and definitely take a starting job but he should provide quality depth in the worst case scenario.
–Round 5/145 – Bobby McCain, CB, 5-9, 195, Memphis
This was a good pick because he’s such a good athlete. McCain has returned four interceptions for touchdowns in his career. Miami has a lot of candidates to start opposite Brent Grimes and McCain is hoping to be among them. It’s probably a longshot he’ll see much time from scrimmage, but if he makes the 53-man roster and contributes on special teams, it’s a good selection.
–Round 5/149 – Jay Ajayi, RB, 6-0, 221, Boise State
This was an interesting pick because the Dolphins needed a power running back. The problem is many teams stayed away from Ajayi because medical reports said one knee is almost bone-on-bone. Regardless, Miami might have a steal with this one. If Ajayi can stay healthy he could push Lamar Miller for the starting job.
–Round 5/150 – Ced Thompson, FS, 6-0, 208, Minnesota
Thompson is known as a hitter who could provide some depth as a rookie and contribute on special teams. Miami is fairly loaded at safety among starters Reshad Jones and Louis Delmas and backups Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, Don Jones, and Jordan Kovacs.
–Round 5/156 – Tony Lippett, CB, 6-2, 192, Michigan State
Lippett is an All-Big Ten selection at wide receiver but he’ll play cornerback for the Dolphins. Lippett, who has decent size for a receiver but good size for a cornerback, started five games at cornerback as a freshman and two games at both cornerback and wide receiver as a senior. He’ll take some time to learn to play cornerback in the NFL but could be valuable because of his versatility.
NOTABLE VETERANS ACQUIRED:
–CB Zack Bowman: UFA Bears; $825,000/1 yr, $80,000 SB.
–TE Jordan Cameron: UFA Browns; $15M/2 yrs; $4M SB/$12.5M guaranteed.
–QB Josh Freeman: FA; $765,000/1 yr.
–WR Greg Jennings: FA Vikings; $8M/2 yrs, $3M SB.
–G/T Jeff Linkenbach: UFA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–G Jacques McClendon: Not tendered as RFA by Jaguars; terms unknown.
–LB Spencer Paysinger: UFA Giants; $745,000/1 yr.
–WR Kenny Stills (trade Saints).
–DT Ndamukong Suh: UFA Lions; $114.375M/6 yrs, $25.5M SB/$59.955M guaranteed.
–C J.D. Walton: FA Giants; 1 yr, terms unknown.
NOTABLE PLAYERS LOST
–TE Charles Clay: Transition FA Bills (did not match offer); $38M/5 yrs, $10M SB/$24.5M guaranteed.
–G Daryn Colledge (UFA/retired).
–LB Dannell Ellerbe (traded Saints),
–CB Cortland Finnegan (released/retired).
–LB Jonathan Freeny: Not tendered as RFA/Patriots; terms unknown.
–OL Nate Garner (released).
–WR Brandon Gibson (released).
–WR Brian Hartline (released).
–CB Brice McCain: UFA Steelers; $5.5M/2 yrs, $2M SB.
–DT Jared Odrick: UFA Jaguars; $42.5M/5 yrs, $5M RB 2015/$22.5M guaranteed.
–G Shelley Smith (released).
–DT Randy Starks (released).
–LB Jason Trusnik: UFA Panthers; $950,000/1 yr, $80,000 SB.
–WR Mike Wallace (traded Vikings).
–LB Philip Wheeler (released).
–S Jimmy Wilson: UFA Chargers; $4.25M/2 yrs, $1.25M RB March 18.
PRESEASON PEEK — Mark that calendar
Aug. 13: at Chicago (Thu.), 8:00
Aug. 22: CAROLINA (Sat.), 7:00
Aug. 29: ATLANTA (Sat.), 7:00
Sept. 3: at Tampa Bay (Thu.), 7:00
