2013 NFL mock draft: Dolphins select Xavier Rhodes

With the 12th pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2013 NFL mock draft, the Miami Dolphins select Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes. JazzyBBP is serving as the Dolphins' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

Most Dolphins fans want an offensive playmaker with this pick, but I felt all the offensive skill players (Tavon Austin, Tyler Eifert, Cordarrelle Patterson, et al.) were a reach at this point in the draft.

The Dolphins secondary is bare. Vontae Davis was traded last year to Indy, Sean Smith left via free agency to the Chiefs and Nolan Carroll sucked last year.

Rhodes is almost 6'2" (a giant for CBs) and has the speed (4.43 40) to keep up with most receivers. He's good in zone and man and has good instincts and ball skills, but he must rein in the aggressiveness and work on his overall tackling. That can be coached, but his size and speed cannot.

CB is the Dolphins' greatest need, and Rhodes happens to be the BPA that fits with the way this draft is shaping up. With two second-round picks and two third-round picks, I should be able to draft an offensive target for quarterback Ryan Tannehill and add to the trenches.

My prediction for the real draft is that Miami will trade up with the Detroit Lions for Dee Milliner. You heard it here first!

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Check out the 2013 Pride Of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.