Miami Dolphins: Complete 7-round mock draft

The Miami Dolphins fell well short of expectations and need to improve in the 2016 NFL Draft

There were huge expectations around the Miami Dolphins coming into the 2015 NFL season. After landing the biggest free agent on the market last summer in Ndamukong Suh, in addition to quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Lamar Miller showing major progress on the offensive side of the ball, Miami seemed like a team that could make real noise. Unfortunately, that’s been far from how things actually played out in 2015.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the Dolphins this season was the fact that their defense performed abysmally even after the Suh signing. Part of that is undoubtedly due to the injury to Cameron Wake, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, but part of it is also due to the fact that the defense behind the front four of the Dolphins was simply lackluster.

Looking ahead at areas that need improvements for the Dolphins, there’s no question that they have to address needs in both their linebacker corps and in their secondary. They simply didn’t have the talent in the 2015 season to make any real impact on the defensive end. Subsequently, that’s why Miami ranked as one of the worst defenses in the NFL in both defending the pass and the rush in the 2015 season.

However, their problems aren’t solely limited to the defensive side of the ball, though that is where the majority of their concerns lie moving forward. Their offense was inconsistent for most of the year and both Tannehill and Miller took steps back in that they lacked consistency and overall effectiveness. While retooling the skill position players in the offense would be silly, adding quality depth and pieces to their offensive line would be a wise move this offseason.

Considering all of the money that this Dolphins team has tied up moving forward with the contracts that they gave to Suh and Tannehill, though, it’s going to be near impossible for Miami to adequately address all of the areas of concern that they need to heading into the 2016 NFL season. Therefore, the 2016 NFL Draft is going to be hugely important for this Dolphins team to reach their full potential. They not only must grab players who can have an instant impact early on, but also need to grab players that could contribute in the foreseeable future.

Knowing that, here is a complete 7-round mock draft for the Miami Dolphins.

Next: Round 1