Fansided

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Wild Card Edition

By Tyler Brooke

Nov 12, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) carries the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) defends during the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) carries the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) defends during the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 32
Next
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (90) celebrates with head coach David Shaw (L) after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 25-23 at Sun Bowl Stadium. Thomas was named MVP of the game. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (90) celebrates with head coach David Shaw (L) after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 25-23 at Sun Bowl Stadium. Thomas was named MVP of the game. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
23

Solomon Thomas

DE, Stanford

It looks like the Miami Dolphins will be parting ways with Mario Williams after this season. Williams has made a negligible impact for Miami’s defense, and they could save $8.5 million in cap space by cutting him before the 2017 season. Considering the contract Miami gave Ryan Tannehill, they could use every extra dollar at their disposal in the offseason.

Miami will look for a replacement for Williams, and they could get an awfully good one in Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. I originally had Michigan’s Taco Charlton mocked to Miami, but after his MVP performance in the Sun Bowl, Thomas has solidified his first-round status.

In fact, as we get closer to the draft, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Thomas being talked about as a top-15 prospect. He’s an explosive player off of the snap that stays low and disengages with some violent hands that are on par with Jonathan Allen’s.

Some have Thomas projecting best as a 3-4 edge rusher given his 6-foot-3, 275-pound frame, but his technique and explosiveness will help him at a 4-3 defensive end in the right scheme.

If Thomas wound up going to the Dolphins, he would be able to learn a lot from guys like Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake to start developing quickly into a legitimate NFL defensive end.

Home/NFL Draft