Miami Dolphins: Todd Gurley worth it?

The Miami Dolphins are on the hunt for some more talent to assemble around franchise quarterback Ryan Tannehil, whose new contract should be coming up shortly after he built on his strong 2013 season with another quality campaign in 2014. After bringing in Jordan Cameron to replace Charles Clay and acquiring Kenny Stills from the New Orleans Saints, the Dolphins roster is starting to take shape. They’ve shown interest in some veteran wide receivers and looked into Stevan Ridley before the former 1,000-yard rusher chose to sign with a different AFC East team in the New York Jets.

In the meantime, the Dolphins have been looking at the most touted running back prospect in the upcoming draft, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the team is “unquestionably intrigued” with the idea of drafting Gurley. There’s no way he slips out of the first round, especially since it seems likely that he’ll be gone in the teens, so the Dolphins would have to spend the No. 14 overall pick on him.

More from Miami Dolphins

Jackson adds in the above tweet that the Dolphins are so intrigued by Gurley that they are conducting a “LOT” of interviews and research regarding the former Georgia Bulldogs standout, who has been compared to Marshawn Lynch during various points during his career.

In my book, Gurley is such a talented player that he’s worth the top-20 pick, and the numbers back up the tape. According to Pro Football Focus, Gurley averaged 3.93 yards after contact per rush with a healthy amount of runs going for at least 15 yards. This is a guy who has plenty of size at 6’1″, 222 pounds but is still elusive enough to make guys miss in the open field, and he is the definition of a foundation back. It’s hard to see him busting, because he can consistently win inside the tackles and has the speed and agility to make defenses pay on the outside once he makes a player or two miss.

I think the world of Gurley as a rusher, and yet I’m hesitant to pull for the Dolphins to draft him with the 14th overall pick. While Gurley would be a big boost for any team, the Dolphins shouldn’t be looking for a foundation back. They already have one of the most underrated rushers in the league in Lamar Miller, who averaged an outstanding 5.1 yards per carry last season after somehow averaging an even 4.0 YPC in 2013 behind an embarrassment of an offensive line.

Miller has shown that he’s one of the league’s most efficient backs, as he has great burst and vision. While the Dolphins are unsurprisingly concerned about his ability to hold up as a true feature back and thus limited him to less than 20 carries in every game last year, the fact of the matter is that he is a speedy 23-year-old who has been a rousing success through his first three years in the league.

Back when the Dolphins showed interest in Ridley, I was a fan since I understood they really need a powerful No. 2 back who can ease Miller’s workload by taking care of those inside runs. Gurley can definitely do that, but Miller played so well last year behind a still-subpar line that it would be unwise to invest a first-round pick in a starting running back when the Dolphins already have a good starter on their roster. While Gurley will most likely be a significantly better player, Miller is still talented enough to lead a team’s rushing attack, and, well, we know he’s good; he’s proven it.

It’s a good idea for the Miami Dolphins to want to pursue a partner for Miller with a different rushing style, but they need to understand that it’s not the best use of their first-round pick. This is a team that has first-round worthy needs at cornerback, linebacker, WR, and defensive tackle.

Todd Gurley could easily be the best player available for the Dolphins at No. 14, and it’s understandable for them to be so intrigued with the thought of drafting a player who is easily one of the draft’s ten most gifted prospects. He’d be an immediate difference-maker, and maybe it would behoove them to use a two-headed duo with Gurley as the foundation back and Miller in more of a change-of-pace role. Miller is over-qualified for that sort of a role, but, based on his usage last season, the Dolphins don’t seem to think that’s the case.

Oct 4, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Jay

Woods

(74) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Since the Dolphins need playmakers and Gurley is an excellent player who is definitely good enough to go 14th (I could see him going earlier than that), I wouldn’t have an issue with them making that selection. The issue is that this year’s draft is much deeper at running back than it is at linebacker, corner, or DT.

If this decision is Gurley or a WR worse than DeVante Parker, then the pick has to be Gurley. Even if it’s Gurley vs. Parker, I think Gurley could make more sense, even if Parker would also be a difference-maker for the Dolphins offense.

For the Dolphins, it all comes down to their evaluation of their other needs, specifically corner, as well as their evaluation of Miller as a player.

The idea of drafting Gurley is incredibly tantalizing, and while I’d prefer to find value at the running back position since I don’t think the ‘Fins need a foundation back, I will readily admit that it is difficult to find a true star at the position outside of the first round.

Look, the Dolphins want star talent, and Gurley is exactly that. I’d prefer to get someone at a position the Dolphins are weaker at and will have more trouble shoring up later on in the draft, but Gurley’s worth it.

There are more pressing needs on the roster, but drafting “best available” is a viable option with a guy like him on the table. Plus, he does actually fill a need, even if “difference-maker” isn’t a position. I’d prefer to go after someone on defense, but that’s not the only way for the Dolphins to improve their team as they look to break into the postseason in 2015.

Next: Another take: Should Dolphins draft Gurley?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Miami Dolphins