Anyone who has followed the Dolphins and the NFL Draft on this site isn’t surprised by this Examiner’s view that the Dolphins should select Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson with their first-round choice, No. 25 overall.
It’s well documented that the Dolphins, despite an 11-6 season and AFC East crown, have pressing needs: pass rusher, wide receiver, cornerback(s), nose tackle, inside linebacker.
The argument for wide receiver: The Dolphins have little to show at the position that scares opponents. Ted Ginn, their No. 1 choice two years ago, began making strides this past season. Greg Camarillo looked like a Wes Welker kind of find before he injured a knee. Brandon London looks like he could be a valuable commodity, but hasn’t performed on the field yet. Ernest Wilford, the big free-agent signing a year ago, is being voted most likely not to succeed by anyone who remotely follows the Dolphins.
The argument for cornerback: The Dolphins have three unrestricted free-agent cornerbacks after the 2009 season, including the one dependable starter now on the roster, Will Allen. They signed free-agent Eric Green, who has much to prove, even the Dolphins admit. They play in a division against teams with outstanding receivers – the Bills and Terrell Owens and Lee Evans; the Patriots and Randy Moss and Wes Welker and probably another receiver who’ll be selected in the first 90 picks of this draft. The Jets will most likely choose a receiver in the first round ahead of the Dolphins.
The argument for a pass rusher: The Dolphins in 2009 face the toughest schedule in the NFL and arguably the best quarterbacks in the league: The Colts and Peyton Manning, the Patriots and Tom Brady twice, the Falcons and Matt Ryan, the Chargers and Phillip Rivers, the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger, the Titans and either Kerry Collins or Vince Young, the Saints and Drew Brees. And the Dolphins say they don’t have enough pass rush.
So, the voice here says: Choose Michael Johnson. Why? The rap on Johnson is that he takes plays off, that he’s weak at the point of attack, that he has “bad tape.”
Here’s what I see: A guy who definitely can play defensive end if he adds 20 more pounds on an already lean frame. A guy with 19 career sacks in a defense that didn’t exactly turn him loose, a guy with 17.5 tackles for loss as a senior and 31 in his career, a guy with 3 blocked field goals, an interception for touchdown, 10 caused fumbles, 11 passes knocked down. And on top of that, he’s nearly 6 feet 7 and 260 pounds and incredibly fast for that size. Disciplined? The son of Marine who was awarded a Purple Heart. Athletic? Enough to average 16 points and 10 rebounds a game in basketball as a high school senior. Intelligent? You don’t get through Georgia Tech without a commitment to academic excellence. He’s a guy that I can see being put into the position to succeed, being coached properly and basically becoming a Pro Bowl player multiple times.
Will the Dolphins draft him? This Examiner isn’t Bill Parcells or Jeff Ireland or Tony Sparano. But I can see that they don’t have to draft a three-down player for 2009. They can select someone they rotate at defensive end with Kendall Langford or Phillip Merling. Someone who can rotate at outside linebacker with Cameron Wake or Matt Roth. Someone who might allow them to part with Joey Porter after the 2009 season. They just need a quick, rush-the-passer-in-obvious-situations athlete.
The rest of the draft? I’d take a cornerback in the second round, followed by a wide receiver, or vice versa depending on best available at Dolphins’ picks of No. 44 and No. 56. I’d take another cornerback in the third round unless I could get inside linebacker Jasper Brinkley of South Carolina in the third or a tight end like Rice’s James Casey or South Carolina’s Jared Cook.
Bottom line: You can find guys who are 6 feet, 200 pounds and can run 4.5s at virtually every university in America, even Division II. They play cornerback and wide receiver. Those positions are not first-round value. You can’t find many guys who are Johnson’s size and speed, agility and ability. I’d take the chance that I could coach him into being a Jevon Kearse or Julius Peppers or even Mario Williams by 2010 but could turn him loose in passing situations in 2009.
Sports Examiners: 2009 NFL Mock Draft »
Sports Examiners from around the country are making the first-round picks in the inaugural Examiner.com Mock Draft. Check out the full list of each Examiner's selections and see who your favorite team is predicted to take!
Comments
Johnson is as reasonable to project as anyone if the coaches believe he can be an OLB. If you are thinking that he'll gain that weight and end up at DE in the Phins' 3-4, then it's a bold prediction (but the Tuna does love to fill those trenches).
Interesting choice Ray. I know that the Dolphins have met with him. He kind of reminds me of J. T. on film.
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