Miami Dolphins 2010 NFL Draft Grade

MIAMI

1.28  Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
Odrick slid to them and fills an unadvertised need along the D line. He’s a perfect fit for this system as a hard-working, long 5-tech, and there was so much made about the need for a nose that people didn’t realize drafting and end like Odrick would move Randy Starks inside. Plus, there’s no telling how many ways Mike Nolan can use him in this syste. GRADE: A

2.40  Koa Misi, OLB, Utah
Misi was a guy that I felt could end up going in the first round, and provides Miami with a much needed pass rush. He was a double-digit sack guy in college, and while his coverage skills will need some work, his high motor and underrated first step will make him a productive replacement for Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. GRADE: B+

3.73  John Jerry, OG, Ole Miss
Jerry is a giant interior lineman who was flying up draft boards and can keep this Dolphin ground game going. He’s a perfect fit in Miami, and also has the ability to slide out to right tackle. Jerry was underrated for a while, but word started to leak about his talents, and Miami snagged a very strong player as late as possible. GRADE: B+

3ROUND GRADE: A

4.119 AJ Edds, LB, Iowa
I like the Edds pick a lot. Iowa defenders make good pros, and Edds is underrated athletically while possessing a blue collar mentality. There’s talk of moving him inside, but I think he provides excellent run support on the outside as well. GRADE: B

5.145 Nolan Carroll, CB, Maryland
Carroll is a highly athletic corner, with great upside. He’s the typical Maryland prospect — potential off the charts, but raw as day old sushi. The Dolphins could use some corner depth, but I think they’ll struggle to get Carroll on the field. GRADE: D

5.163 Reshad Jones, S, Georgia
Gotta like this pick. Jones has some Taylor Mays to his game, and he’ll whiff on a play looking for the slobberknocker hit. But he was productive as a centerfielder (11 INTs), and he’s got enough athleticism to turn into a starter at one safety spot. GRADE: B

7.212 Chris McCoy, OLB, Middle Tenn State
I don’t like this pick. Yeah, it’s the seventh round, but McCoy is strictly a pass rusher who lacks technique and strength. I think he’s strictly a special teamer. GRADE: C

7.252 Austin Spitler, ILB, Ohio State
Spitler, however, is a pick I think could work out. The Dolphins hit with a late round Ohio State product last season (Brian Hartline), and Spitler is a quick guy with good upside in the seventh. GRADE: B

Best Pick: Jared Odrick
Worst Pick: Nolan Carroll
Sleeper Pick: AJ Edds

FINAL ANALYSIS
Everyone seemed so concerned with the Dolphins grabbing a nose tackle, that no one saw Odrick as a strong possibility. But when the Dolphins moved back to 28th, and the Penn State 5-tech was on the board, it was an easy call. Maybe Williams would have been the pick if he’d slipped, but this is a great pick of a guy who has the feel of an instant starter. Misi filled a major need in the second, and he’s going to see the field sooner than later. His pass rushing ability, and steady strength against the run will make him dangerous across from Cameron Wake. Jerry and Edds are strong players with mean streaks who played physical football in college and will bring that mentality to each side of the ball.

Carroll and McCoy seem like soft picks to me. I look at the Carroll pick as a nod to moving Sean Smith to safety. I think he can do it, but I like him better at corner. And McCoy just doesn’t look like an NFL caliber player to me. He’s frail, but does have good natural bend, so I don’t want to completely count him out. Parcells knows his linebackers. But if he moves from special teams, I’ll be surprised. Jones was a great pick in the fifth, but there must be some serious concerns about his coverage ability for him to have dropped that far. He’s not lacking in the size/speed/splatting receivers department. And Spitler is an intriguing prospect for the future.

With the signings of Karlos Dansby and Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins shored up a lot of shortcomings before the draft. That has to be taken into account. Getting Odrick and moving Starks is an exciting call, and could pay huge dividends, especially in Nolan’s innovative scheme. If Jerry and Misi get on the field as early as expected, this could be one of the best classes of the year.

GRADE: A-

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