The Dolphins have made a couple of moves at cornerback this offseason by cutting Cortland Finnegan and signing Brice McCain and they may be making further alterations to the position group in the draft.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the team has set up meetings with several early-round options at corner. Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, LSU’s Jalen Collins, Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson and Utah’s Eric Rowe are all on the team’s list of pre-draft visits.
All four players pop up in the first round of various mock drafts with Waynes and Johnson tending to be the first two corners off the board among prognosticators. The Dolphins have Brent Grimes locked in at one corner along with McCain and third-year players Will Davis and Jamar Taylor. Coach Joe Philbin indicated time is ripe for the two 2013 draft picks to establish themselves.
“This is year three,” Philbin said. “Neither one played any meaningful time their first year. Last year both of them contributed somewhat and both ended up on injured reserve. They should have enough experience. You know the drill. You’ve been around. You’ve been in the system. Coverages haven’t changed a lot. It’s an important year for them.”
With needs on the offensive line and wide receiver also on Miami’s list, they aren’t going to be locked into taking a corner in the first round. If they find one they like, though, Taylor and Davis haven’t done enough to stand in their way of addressing the position.