The Miami Dolphins traded down twice in the second round Friday night before finally making the 63rd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, selecting LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
The Dolphins originally were slotted to take the 50th pick of the draft, but traded down with the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers. The trades helped the Dolphins picked up extra picks in the fourth and fifth rounds.
Landry led the Tigers in receptions in 2013, starting 10 of 13 games. He pulled down a total of 77 passes for 1,193 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013. Against Georgia he had 10 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown and also had more than 100 yards receiving against Arkansas, Ole Miss, and TCU.
Landry’s draft stock took a huge hit at the NFL Combine. He strained his right hamstring before he was supposed to run, but decided to run anyway. Landry ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at the combine, but he made up for at his pro day when he ran the 40-yard dash between 4.5 and 4.58 seconds.
Todd McShay of ESPN called him the “toughest, most physical skill player in this year’s draft.”
Landry may be able to step in and start right away if he can pick up the offense. Fins wide receiver Brandon Gibson is returning from a severe knee injury and if his recovery is slow; it opens up the slot receiver position.
In the first two rounds, the Dolphins filled a gaping hole at right tackle with Ja’Wuan James and then added another weapon for Ryan Tannehill.
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The Fins still have holes at offensive guard and could use more help in the secondary, but so far, the Fins are hitting on the picks they are making.
The Dolphins then traded up in the third round and selected offensive tackle Billy Turner out of North Dakota State. Turner should slot in at guard for the Dolphins and could line up either on the left side next to Brnaden Albert or on the right side next to fellow draft pick Ja'Wuan James.
The Dolphins offensive line after the first three rounds of the draft: left tackle Branden Albert, left guard Billy Turner, center Mike Pouncey, right guard Shelley Smith, right tackle Ja'Wuan James.
