The 2012 NFL Draft officially wrapped on Saturday, with teams using three days and seven rounds to bolster their squads for the upcoming season. The Miami Dolphins added nine players in the draft, most notably selecting former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 pick.
Now comes the time for instant (over)analysis by pundits. First up to bat, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, who gave Miami an overall grade of "C" for this year's draft.
Summary: On my final Big Board, Ryan Tannehill was my 19th-ranked player. The Dolphins got him at No. 8, and probably felt like they couldn't move down. If he's your guy, you take him and live with it. Tannehill is all projection. My worry for him is he needs more game experience, but Miami can't put him out there as a rookie with the hope of being competitive. Remember, this team went 6-3 over its final nine games. Jonathan Martin isn't a bad get at all in the second round. But again, he won't help the team much in 2012. Olivier Vernon doesn't have a high ceiling, but targets a need. Michael Egnew was my No. 4 tight end, and has solid athleticism. He's 6-foot-5, but can run in the mid-4.5 range. Lamar Miller is a great late value; he has some explosiveness and provides some insurance if Reggie Bush gets dinged. Tannehill's success or failure will define this draft -- no way around it.
The Dolphins have become virtually irrelevant in recent years, and now must hope Ryan Tannehill is indeed the long-term solution at the quarterback position. Miami fans have their toes and fingers crossed.
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