2019 NFL mock draft: Miami Dolphins take Rashan Gary

The Miami Dolphins are a team in transition. No more Ryan Tannehill. No more Adam Gase. No more Cameron Wake.

By most outsiders’ viewpoint, this is a team in rebuild, and one that is going to take a couple of years to steady. That’s not exactly good news for a team in the same division as the New England Patriots.

But Pride of Detroit commenter dcredd is here to right the ship. As acting Dolphins general manager in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock, dcredd has selected Michigan edge defender Rashan Gary with the 13th pick.

Here’s the explanation for the selection:

“In my first year taking over for general manager Chris Grier, there are a ton of directions I could go. I say that because the Dolphins only have 58 players on their roster. Miami needs a defensive line, an offensive line, and starting level LB, CB, WR, and a new RB to replace Frank Gore. I would’ve taken Dwayne Haskins to sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he didn’t fall, so I guess we’ll ride the Fitzmagic wave this year.

The biggest needs outside of QB are along both lines. With that in mind, I make the ever-sexy pick of Rashan Gary. Gary is a beast of an athlete, evidenced by his 9.94 RAS, headlined by a sub-4.6 40 while weighing 277 pounds. The only athletic concern is his 3-cone time, which was still solidly better than average at 7.26. He likely won’t be a dominating speed rusher, bending the edge to bring down the QB, but he still has the gifts to play—and dominate—anywhere along the line in the multiple front defense head coach Brian Flores is expected to build in Miami.

The biggest concern for Gary, and the reason he’s available at 13 instead of being talked about in the top three, is his lack of production. He only managed 9.5 sacks over 34 games at the University of Michigan. A player with his physical gifts should be able to do a lot more in college, and that is legitimate cause for concern. This lack of production stems primarily from his lack of refinement as a pass rusher. Gary needs to work on his hand usage and develop tools beyond his bull rush and speed rush; as mentioned earlier, his 3-cone time is indicative of a player who is unlikely to be successful as a speed rusher in the NFL. Even Geno Atkins, who became a star on the back of his signature bull rush, has other tools.

PFF echoes some of these concerns, with Sam Monson going so far as to say “Rashan Gary isn’t even the best DE from Michigan in this draft.”

Personally, I agree that he’s not the best DE from Michigan, but he is the best NFL prospect from Michigan in this draft, and that’s an important distinction. I have faith that my shiny new defense-minded head coach is going to be able to unlock Gary, a player with the versatility to play anywhere on the line, leaving me flexible to continue drafting the best available player without worrying about having to build the defense to fit Gary’s skillset.

If it takes a year for Gary to get it put together at an NFL level, that’s alright; this isn’t a one-year rebuild.”

Catch up on all of the picks with our Community Mock Draft Tracker.