In less than a year the Miami Dolphins went from a one win laughing stock to a division champion and a strong offseason was a key factor in that dramatic turnaround. The Dolphins used the 2008 NFL Draft to lay a solid foundation for the franchise but despite their impressive win/loss record they are still far from a finished product. Bill Parcells set the bar pretty high with last year’s class but the Tuna needed to come through with another strong Draft Day effort if the Dolphins hope to compete with the likes of New England on a consistent basis.

   From a value and need perspective Illinois CB Vontae Davis and the Dolphins were a perfect match. The only question was whether or not Parcells and the Miami organization would willing to take a chance on Davis given the concerns about his character. As it turns out the answer was “Yes” and if Tony Sparano and the Dolphins coaching staff can help Davis keep his head on straight they could have a steal on their hands. On talent alone the case can be made that not only was Davis the best defensive back in the 2009 NFL Draft but also one of the ten best players overall. At 5-11^1/8 and 203 pounds with a sculpted physique and legit 4.4 speed Davis has everything you look for physically but questions about his intangibles gave teams pause and led to his Draft Day slide. An underachiever who didn’t always play up to his talent in college, Davis was also considered to be bit of a diva and had a rocky relationship with his coaches. However, late in round one the potential rewards far outweighed the risks and Davis is exactly the type of big, physical corner the Dolphins were looking for. There is no reason why Davis shouldn’t compete for the starting job opposite Will Allen as a rookie and he has the potential to be a true #1 cornerback in the NFL. The Dolphins brought in another talented defensive back in round two when they selected Utah’s Sean Smith. A former wide receiver with just two years of experience on defense, Smith is still raw but he has rare size for the position (6-3^1/2, 214) and is a very good athlete. With that said there have not been many successful NFL corners who were that tall and his best fit might eventually be inside at safety. Regardless of what position Smith winds up playing he has a lot of upside and will be an interesting developmental project for the Phins. Look for Miami to start Smith out at cornerback, where he will compete for a nickel or dime role as a rookie.

   Prior to the draft wide receiver was arguably the Dolphins most glaring need but despite investing second, third and fourth round picks on the position there is still some question as to how effectively they addressed the problem. In round two Miami took a flyer on West Virginia’s Pat White, which was one of the more controversial picks of the draft. Even though White was a great college quarterback most teams viewed him as a wideout prospect but he insisted on staying under center and that is where he worked exclusively at the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine and the Mountaineers Pro Day. As a quarterback White was, at best, a mid round talent and probably more of a late rounder so in order to justify taking him where they did the Dolphins will have to utilize him as a wide receiver and return man. The problem is White has shown no interest in doing either of those things and while if push comes to shove he will have little choice but to work in those capacities his heart won’t be in it. If White had embraced a position change and been willing to do whatever he was asked in the months leading up to the draft he might have emerged as a legitimate second round value but that simply wasn’t the case and in my opinion Miami took him too early. It will be very interesting to see how White’s role with the team develops over the next few years but he really doesn’t project as a long-term starter at either quarterback or wide receiver. As a rookie White will likely be used in a slash-type of role and his greatest value may come in the “Wildcat” formation that the Dolphins introduced to the NFL last year. In round three Miami reached for USC WR Patrick Turner, who most expected to be taken at least a round or two later. A top recruit coming out of high school, Turner never quite lived up to all that hype during his time with the Trojans but he is a big target with a large frame (6-5, 223) who could fill the role that free agent bust Ernest Wilford was supposed to. However, Turner lacks great speed and doesn’t get much separation so he will probably never be more than a possession guy in the pros. The Dolphins reached once again in round four when they chose Ohio St. WR Brian Hartline, who graded out as more of a seventh round pick on most teams boards. Hartline surprised many when he opted to enter the draft after a disappointing junior season but that drop in production was due in large part to a run-first true freshman quarterback (Terrell Pryor) taking over the starting job. Hartline’s physical tools are relatively average across the board and his upside is limited but his intangibles give him a shot to make it as a backup and special teamer.

   With the first of two fifth round picks Miami opted for a small school sleeper when they chose Monmouth TE John Nalbone. Even though he was taken a little earlier than expected Nalbone was considered by many to be a draftable prospect and while he doesn’t necessarily stand out in any one area he is a solid all-around player who can contribute as both a blocker and a pass catcher. With 25-year-old Anthony Fasano entrenched as the starter Nalbone probably won’t ever be more than a #2 or #3 option in Miami but he could excel in that role. Later in round five the Dolphins selected Clemson S Chris Clemons, who surprised everyone when he ran a 4.41 at the Scouting Combine. Clemons was often overshadowed by Tiger teammate Michael Hamlin but he was a very productive player in his own right, racking up 323 tackles, 20 pass breakups and 5 interceptions during his college career. The Dolphins appear to be set with Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson as their starting safeties but the door is wide open for Clemons to compete for the top backup job.

   Miami boasts one of the best starting offensive lines in the league but they used their sixth round pick to add some depth in the form of Georgia Tech OT Andrew Gardner. A four-year starter for the Ramblin’ Wreck, Gardner has a big 6-6^3/4 frame and after putting on more than 50 pounds during his college career he now tips the scales at just over 300 lbs. Gardner has some athletic and strength shortcomings but he will have a good chance to win a backup offensive tackle job. With their final pick the Dolphins went off the board to select Weber St. LB J.D. Folsom, who wasn’t even on a lot of teams radars. A former JUCO transfer who didn’t notch a single sack as a senior, Folsom’s best chance to make the team will likely come on special teams.

   By most accounts Miami had three major needs heading into the 2009 NFL Draft: Cornerback. Wide Receiver. Outside Linebacker. Vontae Davis was one of the better picks of the first round and by adding him and Sean Smith the Dolphins sufficiently took care of the cornerback position. However, even though they used three prime selections on wideouts all were considered to be reaches where they were chosen and none of them really profile as obvious starters in the NFL. As for outside linebacker, the Dolphins failed to add the infusion of youth at the position that they needed and with both Joey Porter and Jason Taylor now in their mid-30’s that could be an issue going forward unless two-time CFL Defensive MVP Cameron Wake surprises. On one hand you have to give Miami credit for identifying two areas of need then using their top five picks to address them but their execution of that plan leaves something to be desired. Outside of Davis it’s difficult to identify another immediate or long-term starter in this class and for a team with nine selections and a bunch of holes that just isn’t good enough.