A Boy Named Suh

When you think of the last few years in the draft, there have been a lot of notable players, and a lot of players who make-up the Pro-bowl rosters and All-pro teams, but heading into the draft, few of them have been considered must have or Elite talent. I haven't followed the draft or college football for the matter for more than a decade and in that time I couldn't think of more than 2 or 3 players that had that kind of label, not just someone who is considered the best in the class by many scouts/talking heads, but has the consensus label and could be a starter on all 32 teams immediately. Ndamukong Suh is one of those. 

Every year there's buzz about a dozen or so players being 'elite' or being top of the class. Well, there's usually someone who can argue against each player, but this year, Suh is keeping the pundits quiet. You see, the game tape is just too ridiculously good to argue against. The quality of his character is too good to argue against. His football smarts are too good to argue against. And his strength, determination, and coachability are also ticks in his pro column. The guy simply is the best Defensive Lineman to come along in a long time. I remember seeing him play in 2008 and immediately thinking to myself, 'this guy could be in the NFL right now'. Well, he only got better and stronger since then. And he showed he could play anywhere on the line in a 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 3-3-5, whatever.

So, it seems only logical that we should trade up for him, because St Louis will undoubtedly either draft him into mediocrity, or pass on him to take a QB, thus making the biggest GM mistake ever. It's up to Miami to come to the rescue of my fellow Portlander (my adopted 'home-town' where I will soon return to), and add him to the Dolphins rotation. A Dolphins line that had Starks, Suh, Langford, Merling, and McDaniel would certainly make waves, and help to ease the liability at ILB.

We all have an idea of what we want with the 12th pick, although a large portion, if not a majority of Miami fans, wants to trade DOWN rather than pick at 12. But what if we were picking 1st as we did in 2008? Would you trade down to pick McClain or Bryant or Dan Williams? OR would you say to yourself, 'There's no way I'd pass on Suh'?

If you feel that Suh is the 'best in show', the elite monster that would tear up the NFL, a la Reggie White (the player he's most often compared to), then surely you would forget about McClain and Bryant and trade UP to get him.

The following is the math done for you, so you can put on your GM hats, and decide if you want to make the deal. Keep in mind, with the 1st pick overall, you can take any player you want, and you can sign him before the draft, so on draft day you can sleep in while all the other teams jostle for parking.

 SCENARIOS:

1. Miami trades their 12th overall, with their 2011 1st round pick and Tedd Ginn and a mid-level player such as Paul Soliai.
2. Miami trades their 12th overall, their 2nd round pick, Tedd Ginn, Paul Soliai, Jason Allen and Lex Hilliard.
3. Miami trades the 12th overall, their 2011 3rd and 4th round picks and Ronnie Brown.
4. Miami trades their 2011 1st round pick, their 2010 2nd round pick, a 2010 6th round pick, Will Allen, and Pat White.
5. St Louis is desperate to trade out and gives us the 1st pick for our 1st pick and 4th round picks and a 2011 conditional.
6. St Louis drafts a QB, leaving Detroit to either take Suh or trade with us for our 12th overall, and couple of O-linemen, and our 4th round pick.
7. Stephen Ross buys the Rams, and gets them to trade picks with Miami for cash.