First thing first: take everything you see and read as reports at face value at this time of year. The dynamics of the NFL Draft will lead to plenty of misinformation and gamesmanship among teams through sources in the media. The objective is simple: keep the other teams guessing. And while the Miami Dolphins are among the teams who are typically effective at “smokescreening” the competition, the team still undeniably has a type and it hasn’t been a surprise to see what direction the Dolphins have gone early in each of the last two NFL Drafts (at least in the top-20).
Miami has two more top-20 selections awaiting them next Thursday. And while the team may ideally seek to optimize the value of both selections, pressure from other teams in the queue may force Miami to take advantage of their proverbial “high ground” if they feel they have to have a player at a specific position.
Take Alabama running back Najee Harris for example. By most accounts, drafting Harris at No. 18 overall is a bit rich for the price of a running back these days. But reports exist tying the Pittsburgh Steelers heavily to Harris — which will loom large in the minds of the Dolphins when they come on the clock.
The latest comes from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who reports that Pittsburgh expects to add a feature running back by no later than the second round — but most likely in the first round. Meanwhile, Harris spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Schefter’s podcast and spoke glowingly about his interview with Pittsburgh in the pre-draft process.
Perhaps this is all means to be smoke, pushing a player Pittsburgh really wants into their laps if they can coax Miami to go a different direction. But the knowledge of Pittsburgh’s rumored interest will undoubtedly be lingering in Miami’s minds when they come on the clock with the No. 18 overall selection next Thursday.
We’ll see if the pressure gets to Chris Grier and company or if the Dolphins decide to roll the dice.
