The Miami Dolphins could use a lot of work and may need more after the 2016 free agency period, as they are in danger of losing both running back Lamar Miller and edge rusher Olivier Vernon. The offensive line also played terribly in 2015, so if they hope to give Ryan Tannehill and this offense some time to make plays, that is where they will start drafting. Offensive lineman such as Taylor Decker, Jack Conklin, or even Ronnie Stanley could be there at number eight. If Vernon goes, all bets are off, but it seems pretty obvious that the Dolphins need to take an edge rusher.
With the eighth pick, they will select early enough to likely grab DeForest Buckner, Shaq Lawson or Noah Spence if they desired. They could also change things up and select a cornerback since their best corner (Brent Grimes) will turn 33 over the summer. The Dolphins could end up selecting Vernon Hargreaves III and wait for an edge rusher to fall to them in the later rounds.
Miami needs to fortify its offensive line, while at the same time balance the back end of its defense, making this an important draft for the organization. The draft will also be magnified in its importance for the Dolphins because they really don't have any cap space to work with, which means they'll be relying on draft picks to fill roster holes. If the Dolphins see Stanley sitting there at number eight, they have to take him.
