Is Ryan Mallett the Answer to Miami's Quarterback Question?

In the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins may decide to take a big, strong armed, former Michigan drop back quarterback.

Wait, don't the Dolphins already have a big, strong armed, former Michigan drop back quarterback on their roster? Ryan Mallett is best known as an Arkansas Razorback, but don't forget he began his collegiate career as Chad Henne's backup in Michigan.

With the draft just around the corner, speculation as to what will unfold has everyone predicting who will go where. Due to Miami's uncertainty at quarterback, drafting one in the first round might be the way to go and Mallett may be the man for the job.

National Football Post, Draft Huddle and East Coast Sports News all have Mallet going to the Dolphins in the first round. The appeal is in his ability to make big throws down field, to stretch a defense vertically plus he excels in play action situations. Also his experience in a pro style offense should make for an easier transition.

Mallett has many upsides which may make him hard to pass up, but there are a few red flags to consider. The consensus among many is that he's a little slow, doesn't have the greatest footwork, struggles with decision making and his leadership abilities have been called into question.

Of course every quarterback in the draft has pros and cons, but the question here is should the Dolphins use their first round pick on Mallett? Is he a franchise quarterback? Should Miami address other needs by drafting a running back, offensive lineman or wide receiver and try to eventually score a veteran quarterback through free agency or trade? Former Miami legend Dan Marino is pulling for Carson Palmer to suit up in aqua and orange, not likely given the standoff in Cincinnati, but stranger things have happened.

It's interesting that some analysts have Mallett going to Miami, simply for the fact that they already have a Mallett type quarterback in Chad Henne. Mallett racked up great college numbers, but does he have the intangibles? If the Dolphins decide to trade down and get back the second round pick they gave up for Brandon Marshall and Mallett is still there, who knows, we may witness a Henne-Mallett reunion in South Florida.

The Fins definitely have questions when it comes to the quarterback position, but is Ryan Mallett is the best answer?

Miami Dolphins: What to do with First Round Pick?

With the 15th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins select...

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching and every analyst, journalist and blogger is trying to predict who will go where. While most draft analysts have the Dolphins taking Mark Ingram in the first round, recently another name surfaced, Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith. Miami has a good track record with Terrapins, Randy Starks and Nolan Caroll to name a couple, but would it be in Miami's best interest to use the 15th pick on Smith?

The era of running back tandem Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown is coming to a close, so it's time to rejuvenate the running game. Because of this reality many analyst believe the Dolphins will take running back Mark Ingram with the 15th pick. He may be the most complete back in the draft.

Quarterback Chad Henne hasn't lived up to expectations and last season's Henne-Marshall connection was lackluster. Should Miami take a quarterback with their first pick or should they go after a veteran and use a later round pick to secure a quarterback?

Another area of need is the offensive line. The Dolphins made a great move when they drafted left tackle Jake Long and they recently resigned center/guard Richie Incognito. If the Dolphins want a more effective running game though they'll need a stronger line. Do they address the offensive line in the first round?

Miami already has monster wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess has proven to be a good choice in the slot, but the Dolphins need another receiving threat opposite Marshall. This may be the reason Smith's name has been thrown around, but there may be better options at receiver such as Leonard Hankerson or Titus Young. In fact Hankerson had a higher average per catch and more touchdowns than Smith and they both ran a 4.43 40 time.

With all the areas of opportunity the Dolphins have, what will their first move be? Does the front office believe Smith is the best option with the 15th pick? It seems highly unlikely, but I guess we'll have to wait until April 28 to find out.