By Cyrus (@Cyruslassus on Twitter)
After putting a lot of thought into the 2014 season and the future of the Miami Dolphins, I have come to a surprising conclusion heading into the draft.
The Miami Dolphins must draft a quarterback in the first round.
Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com
Ryan Tannehill is not a franchise quarterback as of yet and that is the first order of business until you can cross it off.
A right tackle or right guard is not worth giving up a chance at a franchise quarterback.
Not now, not ever.
The Dolphins could release or trade Matt Moore and create $4 million with which to sign a starter at tackle or guard. Possibly both.
The second and third rounds will still offer a wide variety of highly touted offensive linemen.
Tannehill needs competition. Derek Carr is an excellent choice and he might not even be the best available on the Dolphins board, because there is a chance that one of the top three drops.
Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles have all been discussed as top 10 picks and possible number 1 picks, and should not be passed over unless they prefer one of the other quarterbacks and feel confident they can get him in round 2.
Ryan Tannehill was taken at #8 in 2012, but had they decided that either Russell Wilson or Nick Foles was better, they could have decided to draft him in the second round.
Both lasted until the third, but it would be foolish to miss out on a franchise quarterback because you thought you could get him later.
There are strong options that should be available in round 2, like Jimmy Garoppolo and Zack Mettenberger. AJ McCarron might be gone by then.
Previously, I had identified Tom Savage as a late round option, but he projects as a third string quarterback in 2014. I have to admit that I do not have a strong sense of which quarterback will bust, but I don’t think any of them bust in Miami.
Most of these guys are capable of being as good as Tannehill or Moore have been and some may prove to be better one day. It is worth finding out if any of them can develop better rapport with Mike Wallace.
In the end, Tannehill could be better than every quarterback in this draft.
Let’s find out.
