The Miami Dolphins have a number of needs heading into the 2014 NFL draft and while quarterback isn't a primary one, it's a position they should look at and names like Aaron Murray, Logan Thomas, Tom Savage, Tajh Boyd, David Fales and Zach Mettenberger could be later round options to develop someone behind Ryan Tannehill, who has been solid in two seasons but has not shown that he is yet a winning starter in the league, while a trade for Mike Wallace could be in the works as well.
The Dolphins struggled on offense last season, especially later in the year and they did not score 30 points or more in a game all season and over the final two games as they were making the playoffs, the team scored only seven points and got shutout by the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins pick in the middle of the first round and while that pick isn't going for a quarterback, the team could look later in the draft for some names, as this is a deep class of prospects at the position.
According to ESPN.com, the Dolphins like Tannehill, writes blogger James Walker, but he is two games under .500 in his starting career record and since he was drafted by Jeff Ireland, Dennis Hickey as the new GM will not be beholden to him heading into the draft, although he is the starter for Joe Philbin. Hickey has the chance to pick another QB and it doesn't have the sigma it once had, as now QBs and other players drafted have different structured contracts and it means they can take someone and still keep Tannehill without paying that other player a crazy amount of money.
A trade of Mike Wallace could be an option as well, as Hickey has been looking at some of the receivers in the draft and there are some names available that could replace him. The Dolphins have a straight draft of just one pick in each round and while that is a solid amount, they could get a mid-round pick for Wallace and after the way he played last season following his $50 million contract, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him moves. According to Pro Football Talk, the team has dismissed the rumors, but reports from a couple months back had the team shopping the receiver and that could come up again.
The Dolphins have a solid group led by Brian Hartline and with Rishard Matthews stepping up last season and names like Marqise Lee, Kelvin Benjamin, Allen Robinson and Brandin Cooks available, Wallace easily could be on his way out of town. Cooks was very productive in college and he is a speedy receiver like Wallace and he comes out after making 128 catches last season for the Oregon State Beavers. Benjamin was on FSU and caught the winning TD pass, which was one of his 15 on the season and he is a huge receiver that could be a red zone threat. The team also could look at names like Carlos Hyde and Andre Williams in the second or third rounds.
