With The First Pick
Fansided

2017 Miami Dolphins Mock Draft

By Blake Yagman

Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) runs onto the field for player intoriductions prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) runs onto the field for player intoriductions prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Half way through the NFL season, the Miami Dolphins needs for the 2017 draft are relatively clear.

Nov 29, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) hands the ball to Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) hands the ball to Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

The past few weeks have added clarity to what the Dolphins need to do for the team to get to the next level. In context, the emergence of Jay Ajayi changes quite a bit. If Ajayi is able to continue to produce at a similar (or even lesser) level, the Dolphins need to build a team around him.

When Adam Gase inherited the team after last season, the Dolphins made it fairly clear that they where going to build around Ryan Tannehill. Gase comes from two (formerly) high-octane passing offenses (in Denver and Chicago), many assumed that he would attempt to follow the same mold upon joining Miami. However, after half a season attempting to create an offensive identity where everything was channelled through Ryan Tannehill, Gase realized that the Dolphins roster is best fit for a power-run game.

Keeping that in mind, the entire team needs to be built around that philosophy.

The Dolphins, as an power-run team does, need to accept that they are not going to put up 400+ yards passing and 35+ points per game. That being said, the team needs to model every aspect of the roster around this understanding. This is how the Miami Dolphins need to approach the 2017 Draft.

April’s draft is crucial to the development of Adam Gase’s plan for Miami. Currently, the Dolphins have the fewest picks in the 2017 draft (five) so they need to make each one count. Gase has shown an inclination to play rookies (Tunsil, Howard, Drake, Grant, Carroo), so his 2017 selections should see the field quickly.

Here are the players (by position) that the Dolphins should target come April:

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