Miami Dolphins first-round pick Laremy Tunsil flew into Davie, Florida on Friday to speak to the media about his controversial night on Thursday, but he was initially unavailable to speak at his 3:30 p.m. press conference. Tunsil had an allergic reaction to something he ate earlier in the day and he was not feeling well.
Instead, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Adam Gase spoke to the media about their selection of Tunsil instead. Then, about two hours later, Tunsil was feeling better and was finally introduced to the South Florida media.
“I’m drafted, in the NFL, so I’m good,” Tunsil stated many times throughout the press conference.
After a video of Tunsil wearing a gas mask smoking through a bong, Tunsil’s draft day stock plummeted. While the video on Tunsil’s Twitter account was quickly deleted, he slipped all the way down to No. 13 after being projected as a top-five draft pick.
Despite the questions about him being hacked, Tunsil just wanted to talk about how he fit in with the Dolphins.
“I don’t know (anything) about that,” Tunsil said. “I’m here to talk about the Miami Dolphins.”
Tunsil was reportedly a top five player on just about every team draft board. Once the gas mask video surfaced, Tunsil was taken off a lot of team’s board completely.
Gase said he knew the Dolphins would have a chance to draft Tunsil once the Tennessee Titans traded up from 15 to eight and chose tackle Jack Conklin.
“That’s kind of where a couple of us sat up, got a little interested,” Gase said.
Tunsil said he was happy that the Dolphins didn’t pass on him, unlike 12 other teams.
“They gave me a chance and (I’m going to show them) why,” Tunsil said. “I’m the best player and I should be in the draft.”
Miami hasn’t specifically said where Tunsil will play on the team’s offensive line. They could let Tunsil play at left tackle and move either Branden Albert or Ju’Wuan James to one of the guard spots.
Albert has experience at guard but hasn’t played there since he was in college at Virginia. In 49 games at Tennessee, James started at only right tackle.
No matter what the Dolphins decide to play Tunsil, he said he will be ready.
“Anywhere they put me would be fine,” Tunsil stated. “If coach wants me to play quarterback, coach wants (me) to play receiver, tight end – hopefully tight end – but whatever he wants me to play.”
Twitter: @antwanstaley
