The Miami Dolphins were in a very strange situation, in 2008 they went from a 1-15 team to a 11-5 team, the general public saw this as proof the Dolphins had been rebuilt. It seems that the executives running this team knew a little better.
While this team had a great 2008 season, it was a team with a lot of holes to fill. The facts here are 9 of the 11 2008 wins came against teams with a sub .500 record.
Heading into draft day the Dolphins front office, led by Bill Parcells, was determined to build the Dolphin pass rush through the draft. They were targeting an OLB, but with the 25th overall pick they were unlikely to land one of the top prospects.
The Dolphins were also very thin at Cornerback. With the loss of Andre Goodman and given that fact that come the next off season three of their corners were set to become free agents, including starter Will Allen, given all that CB was a definite need.
The Dolphins were also looking for a WR to help take some of the pressure of Ted Ginn. However Parcells rarely draft a wide out in the first round, so this was a need set to be filled in later rounds.
With the 25th pick in the first round, the Dolphins deiced to address their need at Cornerback and took Vontae Davis of Illinois. Davis was the seventh rated DB in this draft, and the Dolphins made him the second one selected.
However The Sporting News had Davis rate as the DB with best playmaking potential, he is a virtual can’t miss prospect and projects as an elite NFL corner. With that in mind we have to give this pick an initial grade of an, A.
In the second round, with the 44th overall pick the Dolphins did something a little outside the box. They selected QB Pat White out of West Virginia. Without doubt White is the most versatile player to ever enter the NFL raft. He could line up QB, tail back, or at receiver. He seems a natural fit for the Dolphin Wild Cat offense, and ran a similar spread offense in College.
Since White has so far seen limited action, it is somewhat hard to assign this pick a grade. This is a selection way outside the box, and has the potential to be a very good pick, but could also be a pretty poor pick. For the moment let us give this pick a grade of B+. Of course that is, subject to change.
Sine this team had multiple holes to fill they traded down the 56th overall pick in the second round to the 61st pick in the second round. In swapping picks with the Indianapolis Colts they also picked up an additional fifth round pick.
Wit the 61st pick in the second round, the Dolphins selected CB Sean Smith of Utah. Smith was the fifth rated CB in this draft and the Dolphins plan was to use him in situations that called for a bigger body. However Smith has done so well that he is now starting for the Dolphins. Given all that we must grade this pick as an, A.
With all that being said, let us take a look at the 2009 draft day grades for the Dolphins:
Round One- A
Round Two (44th) - B+
Round Two (61st) - A
Talent- A
Need- B
Average- A-
And now a more complete look at the 2009 draft of the Miami Dolphins:
Round 1- 25th overall Vontae Davis CB Illinois
Round 2- 44th overall Pat White QB West Virginia
Round 2- 61st overall Sean Smith CB Utah
Round 3- 87th overall Patrick Turner WR USC
Round 4- 108th overall Brian Hartline WR OSU
Round 5- 161st overall John Nalbone TE Monmouth
Round 5- 165th overall Chris Clemons FS Clemson
Round 6- Andrew Gardner OT Georgia Tech
Round 7- JD Folsom LB Weber State
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