The Miami Dolphins finished in last place in the AFC East last season with a 6-10 record, and after acquiring coveted coordinator Adam Gase as their next head coach, Miami is looking to build a strong franchise that can become a contender in the AFC.
The Dolphins haven't made the postseason since 2008 and haven't won a playoff game since 2000. With a new general manager and head coach in place in Miami, the Dolphins are looking to build a strong foundation that will compete for the postseason year-in and year-out.
The Dolphins landed some big players in free agency this offseason but have not been able to land a legitimate starting running back since losing Lamar Miller to the Houston Texans in free agency. The Dolphins lost their chances on both C.J. Anderson and Chris Johnson in free agency this offseason, as they are both returning to their respective teams on new contracts.
The Dolphins have clearly been in search for dominant running back to join their offense in 2016, and with no success in free agency it could change their potential draft plans. Miami's front office is reportedly strongly thinking about Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott in the first round of the draft, and if the Buckeyes star is still on the board at 13 it wouldn't come as a shock if he ended up as the Dolphins' first round pick.
The Dolphins swapped picks with the Philadelphia Eagles through a trade that landed them cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso, and if Elliott makes it past both the Dallas Cowboys and the Eagles in the draft, he could slide to Miami at 13. The Dolphins' top need this offseason is cornerback, but if Elliott is still on the board, Miami's front office will likely feel that he is too great a talent to pass up on.
Elliott is considered the top the running back in this year's draft class and is projected to be an elite running back at the next level. In his junior season with the Buckeyes he rushed for 1,821 yards scored 23 touchdowns and is expected to be a dual threat at the next level with pass-catching abilities out of the backfield.
Elliott showed throughout his college career his ability to show up in big games, as he rushed for more than 230 yards in each of Ohio State's College Football Playoff games during the 2014 season and recorded 149 rush yards and four touchdowns against Notre Dame in this year's Fiesta Bowl. There is no question that Elliott should be considered a rare talent in this year's draft class, and the only question many franchises likely have is how far the coveted running back will fall in the first round.
