A look at Mel Kiper's mock draft and Dolphins and other draft notes

Mel Kiper told us a couple weeks ago that he liked Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson as Miami’s potential first round pick, and that’s who he listed in his first mock draft Wednesday.

Patterson, 6-3, had 46 catches for 778 yards as a junior this past season. Of course, if the Dolphins add a top receiver in free agency, this Kiper projection likely would change.

Here’s what Kiper wrote on ESPN.com about Miami’s pick at No. 12: “The Dolphins nailed their quarterback pick in taking Ryan Tannehill in 2012, but when they dealt Brandon Marshall to the Bears, they also left Tannehill without a wide receiver who opposing defenses truly fear as a matchup problem. Patterson had just one year against top competition after spending two years at the junior college level, but he has very good hands, can beat cornerbacks with his height and strength, and will go up and beat defenders for 50-50 balls. He also has big-time ability to run after the catch, and this slot matches up with his current value.”

He’s the only receiver Kiper has being drafted before Baylor’s Terrance Williams at No. 23.

Here’s Kiper’s first ESPN.com mock draft, followed by highlights from his conference call today:

1) Kansas City: Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel

2) Jacksonville: Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore

3) Oakland: Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei

4) Philadelphia: Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner

5) Detroit: Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones

6) Cleveland: FSU defensive end Bjoern Werner

7) Arizona: Alabama guard Chance Warmack

8) Buffalo: Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o

9) Jets: LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo

10) Tennessee: Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan

11) San Diego: Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher

12) Dolphins: Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson

13) Tampa Bay: Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree

14) Carolina: Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson

15) New Orleans: Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins

16) St. Louis: Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro

17) Pittsburgh: BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah

18) Dallas: North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper

19) Giants: LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery

20) Chicago: Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert

21) Cincinnati: Wisconsin running back Montee Ball

22) St. Louis: Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker

23) Minnesota: Baylor receiver Terrance Williams

24) Indianapolis: FSU offensive tackle Menelik Watson

25) Seattle: Georgia defensive tackle John Jenkins

26) Green Bay: Stanford tight end Zach Ertz

27) Houston: Cal receiver Keenan Allen

28) Denver: FSU cornerback Xavier Rhodes

29) Baltimore: LSU linebacker Kevin Minter

30) San Francisco: Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd

31) New England: Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins

32) Atlanta: SMU defensive end Margus Hunt

### Just the Dolphins’ luck: The draft is deepest in Miami’s deepest area (front seven). “Half the first round will be front seven defensive players,” Kiper said. “A tremendous number of defensive linemen are first-round worthy --- the most I can remember in years. A ton of defensive tackles.”

Defensive line becomes a big need only if Randy Starks leaves in free agency; Miami is making an effort to re-sign him.

### Besides the prominent receivers (Patterson, Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, Cal’s Keenan Allen, Baylor’s Williams, Clemson's Hopkins and West Virginia’s Tavon Austin), among other receivers Dolfans should keep an eye on is Marshall receiver Aaron Dobson, “a guy people are not talking about who could emerge maybe in late first round, or in the second round discussion,” Kiper said.

### Kiper said Floyd is the best of the Gators: “Most years, he would be a mid first-rounder.” Matt Elam “is the No. 2 safety behind Kenny Vaccarro. Elam is more of an early to mid second.”

Linebacker Jelani Jenkins “is probably more of a third to fourth round type of pick. I project him lower than the other two.”

Tight end Jordan Reed “can stretch the deep middle. It’s not a great year for tight ends. Eifert and Ertz are first-round tight ends. Michigan State’s Deon Sims and Reed are next in line. Reed is probably in the third round discussion, maybe second if he runs a great 40.”

### Kiper doesn’t have a quarterback in his first round because he said teams picking lower than eighth (really ninth, because the Jets pick ninth) don’t need a quarterback. And he can’t justify any going in the top 10.

“Kansas City, Arizona and Buffalo are second-round possibilities. Do you trade late in the first round to get a Matt Barkley, Geno Smith or Mike Glennon? They could. [People] thought that would happen with Andy Dalton and it didn’t.”

### Kiper was asked why West Virginia’s Geno Smith, a Miramar alum, isn’t a guaranteed first-rounder. He pointed to him benefitting from the Mountaineers system: “The windows you throw into – some possible interceptions were dropped.”

### Not only has Barkley cost himself financially by returning for his senior year, but so has Oklahoma’s Landry Jones, whom Kiper pegs as a third to fifth rounder: “You see inconsistency with accuracy.”

### Kiper said a case could be made for the Chiefs taking Joekel, Moore, Lotulelei or Jarvis Jones No. 1 overall.

### If Jake Long leaves in free agency and Miami is looking for a right tackle, Kiper likes North Carolina’s Brennan Williams as an appealing third round option. The best natural right tackles are Fluker and Watson, both of whom Kiper pegged for the 20s.

### Kiper said FSU quarterback “E.J. Manuel won a lot of games. Not tremendously instinctive. You see some decision making, that bad throw, that leaves you scratching your head. Inconsistent. More of a fifth, sixth round possibility.”

### He said Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is a likely second-rounder, probably as a receiver: “He has great speed, great athleticism. He can catch the ball. I think he will be an offensive entity. He can return” kicks.

### “There are a lot of corners in the second-round discussion” -- including Washington’s Desmond Trufant, San Diego State’s Leon McFadden, Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks and Oregon State’s Jordan Poyer, with a possibility of Virginia Tech’s Logan Ryan and North Carolina State’s David Amerson (“who was beaten far too much for our liking.”)

Kiper doesn’t see Xavier Rhodes falling into the second round.

 

Comments

[Serpico Jones]

Barry, what's your take on the Dolphins stadium situation?

[Marios]

Dolphins need a free agent #1 WR, and another one in the 2nd round. A tight end or defensive end is a better choice in the 1st round. A fast tight end will make every receiver better, including the ones we already have.

[playthefreshmen]

I agree..Miami should not pick that WR with the pick..Get a WR (or 2) in free agency..I would trade down if given (late 1st rd) and another 2nd or 3rd rd pick in return..

[Barry Jackson]

Serpico, I could see the Dolphins getting one of the two revenue sources they're seeking (the hotel bed tax or state sales tax rebate), but the odds are probably against them getting both by May of this year, when they want to have this wrapped up. The hotel bed tax would generate far more more than the sales tax rebate.
As my colleague, Doug Hanks, mentioned to me, before the county commission votes on increasing the bed tax, the state would need to grant the county permission to vote on it. Hanks believes there is some county commission support for increasing the bed tax, partly because Steve Ross is contributing more than half of the $400 million. Whether it's enough to get the super majority needed for approval remains to be seen.

[Ed]

Watch them take a right tackle at no. 12. that would be so like ireland.

[Mike]

Ed, Have even seen the last 5 drafts, Here are the last 5 drafts, please count the O-Linemen selected, Ryan Tannehill 2012, Mike Pouncy 2011, Jared Ordrick 2010, Vonte Davis 2009, Jake Long 2008, Ted Ginn 2007. How many O-Linemen are there in those 6 drafts.....the answer is 2. So your comment is not factual.

[Quis]

No QBS in this mock draft. #interesting

[dolfanman13]

I like Patterson but I can't justify Miami picking him at #12 if we get a Jennings or Wallace in FA. They'd be better off grabbing the top rated DE or CB. Miami should def go WR/TE with their first 2nd round pick though.

[Reality Bites]

Barry you mentioned a few Gators and Noles slotted for the first and second rounds. Why no Canes?

[Barry Jackson]

Reality: Kiper said no Canes will be picked in day one or day two.

[Barry Jackson]

Brandon McGee and Mike James will get a look.

[alex]

If we can get Elam in the 2nd, that would be a steal. I hate the gators, but that kid made plays all year.

[Big Picture]

What about Hopkins out of Clemson. He looked great against LSU.... I think he is better than Patterson.... he dropped many balls... saw him against the Gators and he dropped a couple of TDs.

[Big Picture]

What about Hopkins out of Clemson. He looked great against LSU.... I think he is better than Patterson.... he dropped many balls... saw him against the Gators and he dropped a couple of TDs.

[TK SWAN!!]

WE NEED A WR IN FA (MIKE WALLACE) THEN WHATEVER IS THE BEST AVAILABLE POSITION PLAYER THAT WE NEED(TE,DE,CB,S,)ETC.IN THE 2ND ROUND WHATEVER WE DID NOT TAKE IN FA AND 1ST RD PICK. WITH THE RIGHT MOVES ON OFFENSE AND GET A PASS RUSHER AND GOOD COVER CORNER THAN I DO SEE THE DOLPHINS WINNING AT LEAST 10 GAMES BARRING NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES AND RESIGNING BUSH,HARTLINE,STARKS,AND YES LONG.

[Reality Bites]

I think we need more than one WR. We should get one in FA and draft another maybe in the 3rd round. Elam in the second will be a good pick as we also need safety help. A corner or DE in the first would be nice too. We have multiple 3rd round picks to use on WR and/or TE.

[CaneKiller]

of course there won't be any Canes selected in the 1rst or second rounds. Canes suck.

[RealityKiller]

I think you should be reading the Gainesville Gazette.

[Dom]

Cane killer Miami has the most playerswith USC in the NFL. So I think that shows why U is down now. Coker and Shannon LEFT THE TEAM BARE.............U shot yourself in the foot. And golden got them to acc title game................

[AanonymousCane]

Canekiller...."get your licks in now." Al Golden

[AanonymousCane]

Alachua County Detention Center admissions sgt to Gator football players....."Assume the position."