The NFL Combine kicks off on Thursday from Indianapolis, marking a time when the NFL Draft hype cranks up another notch.
Players will be looking to put up good marks in a number of drills, while also convincing teams through interviews that they're the player they're looking for.
The Dolphins' roster is in need of an upgrade in a number of areas, and there are several intriguing prospects that could help fit that bill that Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier should be monitoring closely. Here are five players who should have their attention in Indy.
Campbell could be someone that's off the board by the time the Dolphins pick at 13, but you never know who could fall into your lap on draft night. His versatility to play on the outside or at guard is something that Miami desperately could use right now with questions at left tackle and both guard spots.
The Dolphins' protection issues are well known, and they simply can't afford to allow Tua to continue taking the poundings he's taken so far in his career. Booker has been a plus pass protector at Alabama, where he earned a PFF pass block grade of 86.5 or higher in two of the last three seasons. If he can show the agility and footwork needed for a lineman in McDaniel's offense, he could be a very good fit for Miami.
Miami is down a starter after releasing Kendall Fuller, and a suitable replacement doesn't appear to be on the roster. Johnson has the ideal size for an NFL boundary corner at 6'2", 205 pounds. If his footwork and quickness in Indy match what he put on tape at Michigan, he would be hard to pass up if he was in play when the Dolphins were on the clock. His work ethic has also been raved about by his former defensive coordinator and teammates.
The Wills and Tylers continue on this list, but hey, they're pretty good players, and Penn State's Warren is no exception. The Nittany Lion was a target hog for James Franklin's squad last year, powering Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The most complete tight end in the draft, he can line up in line, in the slot, or in the backfield, which would be very useful for McDaniel to deploy. We saw just how well he implemented the position into his game plan last year with Jonnu Smith. He should seal a place early in the first round with a solid run in Indy.
Watts is someone that Miami should be looking for in the middle of the second round, but a good Combine performance might force their hand to move up if they really wanted him. Watts would deliver something specific that Miami has lacked in a major way on defense - takeaways on the back end. Over the last two years, Watts has 13 interceptions for 273 return yards. As the Dolphins very well could be without both starting safeties once free agency is underway, the former Irish defender could be a good long-term solution.
