Dolphins Q&A: What to make of upcoming draft — and is trickery coming to Miami?

Here’ s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Omar Kelly answer questions from readers. In all seriousness, the five picks the Dolphins still have after the blockbuster deal to acquire Hill could largely be used for depth to fill out the roster and for high-upside prospects the Dolphins...

Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Omar Kelly answer questions from readers.

Q: I’ve been wondering what our draft will look like because the talent is deep this year. — Ethan Visnich on Twitter

A: It will look like a lot of waiting between Thursday and Friday night before that No. 102 pick at the end of the third round comes up.

It will look like whatever your vision of star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is in this offense — because those first two picks in the upcoming draft were the centerpiece of five selections sent to Kansas City for the speedster Hill.

In all seriousness, the five picks the Dolphins still have after the blockbuster deal to acquire Hill could largely be used for depth to fill out the roster and for high-upside prospects the Dolphins think they can develop into contributors down the road.

As currently constructed, Miami’s roster is at a point where it doesn’t have enough of a glaring hole at any position where it is a necessity to find a starter-caliber player to fill such a void. That, of course, is not to say upgrades in certain areas shouldn’t be pursued.

Take center, for example. General manager Chris Grier has indicated he still believes in Michael Deiter, but he wants competition at the position. If a veteran center isn’t added ahead of the draft, why not look there with your late-third-round pick? Especially if, say, Boston College’s Alec Lindstrom, who has the connection of being coached in college by new Dolphins offensive line coach Matt Applebaum, is hanging around at that point — or a similarly ranked center.

The Dolphins could also use a young inside linebacker after going the route of continuity and bringing back the team’s free agents at the position. Such a player, taken in the middle-to-late rounds, could stand to start off behind Jerome Baker, Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley while developing.

The draft appears deep there or at edge defender and wide receiver. Miami could always use an extra pass rusher, and even if the team looks deep at receiver, the Dolphins could take a developmental prospect that could grow and allow for roster flexibility down the road.

Also, this roster still doesn’t have its punter, so looks like the Dolphins could be snagging one in the later rounds.

After 102, the Dolphins have a fourth-round pick, one in the fifth and two in the seventh. They could always pursue trades to add more selections, but it’s hard to imagine scenarios where the Dolphins reinsert themselves into one of the first two rounds, unless they dip into next year’s slate of picks in a trade. The team continues to work on a contract restructure with Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard, who last training camp requested a trade.

Q: Are the Dolphins going to implement trick plays with the weapons they have on offense? — Pablo R on Twitter

A: We still don’t have a true feel for Mike McDaniel’s tendencies as a play caller because, remember, coach Kyle Shanahan called offensive plays last season for the 49ers with McDaniel as offensive coordinator.

McDaniel has already said he will be the offensive play caller, and I wouldn’t put it past his creative, innovative mind to draw up and call some things we haven’t seen before.

There’s a lot he can do with the fast combination of Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. might just have the best arm for a wide receiver in the NFL, so get him the ball on a backward pass and he can deliver it to the other pass catchers.

Have a question?

Email David Furones, or tag @OmarKelly or @DavidFurones_ on Twitter.

Previously answered:

How should Dolphins fill out O-line around Armstead?

Could AFC’s young guns at QB affect Dolphins’ commitment to Tua?

Why not throw downfield to Waddle more?

What do Dolphins think of practice squad rookie RB Gerrid Doaks?

Can Tua still be a top-10 quarterback?

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