Working Through My Post-Day 1 Draft Feelings.

 This feeling that I have - part disappointment, part not knowing what I feel - is exactly why I don't usually get involved in the Pre-Draft process. All the players I fell in love with went to teams other than the Dolphins. The Dolphins chose a player I expressly hoped they would not. (But let's not kid ourselves, they telegraphed it the whole way they were going to take Jaelan Philips.)

I prefer to feel optimistic about the players Miami drafts. And don't get me wrong - I'm very optimistic about Jaylen Waddle. I'm also amused that both of their first round picks are named Jaelen, by one spelling or another. But so was Rich Eisen on the NFL Network broadcast, so I'm a little late in pointing it out. Can't say I'm not disappointed they won't get one of the top three running backs in this draft.

The second round is for optimism. At least for me. I haven't studied any of the players left on the board, basically. Minus Javonte Williams. Do Miami trade up for him? I doubt it.

But let's not talk negative. I want to be positive.

Waddle is going to make an immediate impact on the team. He's a bigger, stronger, (faster?) version of Jakeem Grant. The knocks on Waddle are the knocks on Grant - he relies on body catches and gets surprised by passes early in his breaks. But... he's a dynamic punt returner, and when I was looking at the top wide receivers in this class, I should have taken that into consideration. He's a rookie who will play and contribute on Special Teams first. I like that. I also really like what I say of his personality.

I think that if he had it to do over again, Waddle would have not gone to Cleveland. He looked completely over it by the time his name was called.

Opposing defenses are going to have to respect his speed. 

My only question, now, is how Waddle really fits into the starting offense. He and Will Fuller, in my mind, are the same receiver. Is their plan for Fuller a one-year deal - like so many of last year's Free Agent class? But... if the comparison made between Waddle and the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill is accurate... then it doesn't really matter. Waddle is going to be dynamic enough to force his way on the field.

You're going to hear people say tonight that Miami still needs to address the offensive line. And they might. But in my mind, they have to target a running back. They really have no choice. Not in my mind. I'd like to see a linebacker or two. A corner. But really I just want to see them do what they've been fairly consistent in doing since Grier took over - take guys who were good students, have good hearts, score well in athleticism, and play on competitive teams in competitive college... whatever they call their divisions.

Fins up.