The Miami Dolphins didn’t have a fourth or a fifth round pick to begin the last day of the NFL Draft, but the team had a number of selections on day three. Their first select came in the sixth round at pick 186.
Miami traded with the Minnesota Vikings to move up to pick 186 to select wide receiver Jakeem Grant from Texas Tech. Playing for the Red Raiders, Grant had two excellent seasons in Lubbock.
In his junior season in 2014, Grant was Texas Tech leading receiver as he caught 67 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, Grant had an even better season as he recorded 90 catches for 1268 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In a conference call with the South Florida media on Saturday afternoon, Grant said he can play a variety of different roles for the Dolphins.
“I definitely think I can play receiver, and I definitely will be the return guy,” Grant said. “I feel like I can do the same exact role I did at Texas Tech there at Miami.”
Grant has amazing speed, which appealed to the Dolphins. He ran a 4.12 40 during his Texas Tech pro day. Dolphins not only can use Grant in the passing game, but also as a kick and punt return.
In four seasons, Grant averaged 24.9 yards per kick return with four touchdowns scored.
Anytime you pass Wes Welker and Michael Crabtree on the Texas Tech all-time, you’ve done something right. If the Dolphins do in fact use Grant at receiver, it will likely be during certain package situations because his listed weight is 168.
Former Penn State head coach Bill O’ Brien first commit, Jordan Lucas was the Dolphins second selection in the sixth round at pick 204.
Lucas began his career as a cornerback before moving to hybrid safety role as a senior. He started the first nine games of the 2015 season before suffering a right shoulder injury that prematurely ended his career at Penn State. Also because of that injury, Lucas wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl or the NFL Combine.
Lucas said in a conference call that the Dolphins coaches want to use him as a cornerback.
“The coaches and they want me to play corner,” Lucas said. “They want me to be a press corner, come in there (and) be physical and just be the type of player I am – physical, aggressive – and a smart football player.”
Lucas is a player that is solid against the run up in the box. He can also be used in nickel situations to rush the passer.
Lucas’ cover skills are average at best as he lacks the athleticism to stay with a lot of the receivers in the NFL. Not sure how much Lucas will help the Dolphins in 2016, but he isn’t a bad player to bring into camp.
Miami had two picks in the seventh round. With their first pick of the last round of the draft (223rd), the Dolphins took quarterback Brandon Doughty from Western Kentucky.
Doughty was a three-year starter for the Hilltoppers as he threw for 12,855, 111 touchdowns against 34 interceptions.
Doughty will be a good development quarterback in head coach Adam Gase’s system because of the high-tempo offense he ran at Western Kentucky. His arm is nothing special, but he was very accurate in college as he completed 72 percent of his passes in 2015.
A Davie, Florida native, Doughty is just happy his hometown team took a chance on him.
“My hometown team; the Miami Dolphins. Who would have thought,” Doughty said. “It ended up being a blessing for me (to be) taught to by Dan Marino and being coached by him in high school. It’s an unbelievable honor for me. I can’t be thankful (enough). I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I have in front of me.”
With Miami’s last pick, the team took tweener tight end Thomas Duarte from UCLA. In his final season with the Bruins, Duarte caught 53 passes for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Duarte is a good red zone threat (6-2), something that the Dolphins desperately need. If he is going to play tight end in the NFL, he will need to put on some weight. In the meantime, the Dolphins can use him on special teams during the preseason
Duarte says he played a lot of special teams at UCLA
“I did a lot of special teams at UCLA and that’s what I plan on doing for the Miami Dolphins, Duarte said.”
MIAMI DOLPHINS DRAFT SELECTIONS
RD PICK OVR PLAYER POS COLLEGE
1 13 13 Laremy Tunsil T Mississippi
2* 7 38 Xavien Howard CB Baylor
3 10 73 Kenyan Drake RB Alabama
3** 23 86 Leonte Carroo WR Rutgers
6*** 21 186 Jakeem Grant WR Texas Tech
6**** 29 204 Jordan Lucas DB Penn State
7***** 2 223 Brandon Doughty QB Western Kentucky
7 10 231 Thomas Duarte TE UCLA
* acquired in a draft-day trade with the Baltimore Ravens
** acquired in a draft-day trade with the Minnesota Vikings
*** re-acquired in a draft-day trade with the Minnesota Vikings
**** acquired in a draft-day trade with the New England Patriots
***** acquired in a draft-day trade with the Cleveland Browns
TRADE DETAILS
- Miami acquired Baltimore’s second-round pick (38th overall) in exchange for Miami’s second-round pick (42nd overall) and Miami’s fourth-round pick (107th overall).
- Miami acquired Minnesota’s third-round pick (86th overall) in exchange for Miami’s sixth-round pick (186th overall) and a third- and fourth-round pick in 2017.
- Miami acquired two sixth-round picks (196th and 204th overall) and a seventh-round pick (250th overall) from New England in exchange for a fifth-round pick (147th overall).
- Miami re-acquired a sixth-round pick (186th overall) from Minnesota in exchange for a sixth-round pick (196th overall) and a seventh-round pick (227th overall).
- Miami acquired a seventh-round pick (223rd overall) from Cleveland in exchange for CB Jamar Taylor and a seventh-round pick (250th overall)
Twitter: @antwanstaley
