2015 NFL Draft Grades: Miami Dolphins select DeVante Parker

The Miami Dolphins needed an offensive playmaker and that’s who they got in the NFL Draft, but will he work out for them?

Miami made the biggest splash — oh god what an awful pun — in free agency when they picked up defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The team still needed to add someone in the secondary, but with Trae Waynes off of the board and no safety justifiably ready to be taken at the fourteenth pick, the Dolphins instead decided to go with DeVante Parker.

Parker is one of the best wide receivers available in the draft. Parker’s body control allows for him to make play. Despite his lack of straight line speed, Parker still demonstrated an ability to make plays down the field. Still, he is mostly known as a possession receiver, someone with a wide catch radius, reliable hands, sharp route running and an ability to make uncomfortable catches. Many thought that the Minnesota Vikings were going to reunite Parker with Teddy Bridgewater with the 11th pick, but instead Parker slides.

With the departure of Mike Wallace to Minnesota, the Dolphins best wide receiver was Jarvis Landry. Ryan Tannehill needs to have a target as a security blanket, and the Dolphins need a solid red zone threat.

This pick makes plenty of sense, although perhaps there would be better players available at other positions, particularly for a pass defense that is entirely reliant on the excellent pass rush led by Cameron Wake. But regardless, this is a good value pick anyway.

Grade: A-