Phillip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe were part of a big free agent haul for the Miami Dolphins in 2013 but never quite lived up to their lucrative five-year, $26 million and five-year, $35 million contracts in two seasons with the team.
After initial reports emerged early this offseason that the Dolphins and head coach Joe Philbin and GM Dennis Hickey would look to trade Wheeler and Ellerbe, the team decided to simply cut ties with Wheeler after finding no takers. Ellerbe remains on the roster at this point, but his time with the Dolphins could be drawing to a close.
The Dolphins are thin on the inside with Wheeler gone and Ellerbe a question mark and could look to the 2015 NFL Draft as a means with which to add talent to the position.
According to a report from Draft Insider's Tony Pauline, the Dolphins are paying close attention to Stephone Anthony, a fast-rising prospect out of Clemson that has seen his draft stock trend steadily upward in the months after the collegiate season.
Per Pauline, the Dolphins are set to work Anthony out today after having dinner with the Tiger product last night.
Anthony entered the draft process with little fanfare but thanks to strong efforts at the Senior Bowl and combine has shot up draft boards. He's now a projected early second-round selection that could slot in alongside Koa Misi with the Dolphins.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Anthony finished last season for Clemson with 75 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, one interception and 2.5 sacks in 13 games, per CFBStats.com.
NFL.com's draft profile of Anthony says that his measurables and game tape reveal a player with a good build for the position and a steady, consistent tackling form. The report questions his instincts and notes that "often it feels like he's guessing."
As a strong-side 'backer in the Dolphins mostly 4-3 front under defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle - unless the team has high hopes for Jonathan Freeny - Anthony would presumably be able to play downhill, attacking fullbacks and ball carriers and rushing the quarterback more often than he'd be asked to drop into coverage with tight ends.
