Miami Dolphins: NFL Offseason Report Card

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Miami Dolphins
2009 Draft Grade: B

Free Agent/Non Draft: B-

Total Grade: B

Overall Needs:
•Inside Linebacker
•Offensive Guard
•Cornerback
•Center
•Wide Receiver
•Defensive Tackle
•Safety

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
1) 25 Vontae Davis CB Illinois
2) 44 Pat White QB West Virginia
2) 61 Sean Smith CB Utah
3) 87 Patrick Turner WR USC
4) 108 Brian Hartline WR Ohio State
5) 161 John Nalbone TE Mounmouth
5) 165 Chris Clemons S Clemson
6) 181 Andrew Gardner OT Georgia Tech
7) 214 J.D. Folsom LB Weber State

Arrivals: Old Team
CB Eric Green (FA) Arizona
C Jake Grove (FA) Oakland
DT Tony McDaniel (FA) Jacksonville
DE Jason Taylor (FA) Washington
S Gibril Wilson (FA) Oakland

Departures: New Team
QB John Beck (FA) Baltimore
CB Andre’ Goodman (FA) Denver
S Renaldo Hill (FA) Denver
DE Vonnie Holliday (FA)
C Al Johnson (FA) New England
G Matt McChesney (FA) Denver
C Samson Satele (trade) Oakland
LB Kevin Smith (FA) NY Giants
LB Mark Washington (FA) San Francisco

Offseason Analysis:

Bill Parcells turned the Miami Dolphins around in one year and now they are looking to build on it. They took a very talented corner in the first round in Vontate Davis, a great athlete, who has yet to produce in college. The Dolphins were looking to perfect the “Wildcat” offense and by doing so, drafted QB Pat White in the second round. White is a little small for a qb, but the question is whether he’ll move to wide receiver or stay at quarterback.

Another second round pick was used on a corner, Sean Smith, who is huge (6-3, 215) and could also play safety. In the third round, they took a big receiver in Patrick Turner (6-5, 223), similar in build to former Trojan WR Keyshawn Johnson. They also took another receiver in the fourth in Brian Hartline from Ohio State, a speedsters who joins former teammate Ted Ginn Jr., and will compete for playing time.

In the fifth round, they took a 1-AA player in John Nalbone, a big tight end from Monmouth. They took a safety with their other fifth round pick in Chris Clemons from Clemson, who ran a 4.33 at the Combine. In the sixth round, they grabbed Andrew Gardner, a left tackle from Georgia Tech who started 48 straight games before sustaining a torn left labrum. In the seventh round, they grabbed a linebacker in J.D. Folsom who might be headed to veterinarian school if he doesn’t make the squad.

In free agency, the Fins brought back Jason Taylor, the once- great defensive end, to provide pass rush at outside linebacker. They also added a starting center in Jake Grove from Oakland and a starting corner in Eric Green from Arizona. Not huge moves, but solid ones for a team that went 11-5 last season.

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