2010 Draft Prospect - TE, Dorin Dickerson

Before we get too far into this thing, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I want the Dolphins to draft Dorin Dickerson as a wide receiver.

Dickerson is currently rated as a 3rd round pick, and if you were to find a receiver with his size (6'2", 226 lbs), his strength (24 reps), his speed (4.40), his production (10 TDs in 2009), his route running, his leaping ability, his blocking ability, and his playing in a pro-style offense, and that WR would be a 1st round pick.

Instead, he's stuck in a Tight End box, and thus, you look at his size and think, well, he's not big enough to warrant a high pick. This is exactly why the Dolphins should draft him in the 2nd round (They can't wait until the 3rd - he may be gone by then) but he's a sure thing with their 2nd pick.

And what do the Dolphins need in a WR? Someone big, fast, good hands, red zone threat, runs good routes, blocks well, and doesn't costs a 1st round pick. That is Dorin Dickerson.

The reason he's so good at running routes is because he used to be a wide receiver. The reason he's so strong and blocks people well is because he switched from WR to line-backer. The reason he's good in the red zone is because he played for Pittsburgh, a pro-style offense that featured some outstanding running backs and wide receivers, so he knew he'd have to stand-out in the red because the other guys would get most of the touches between the 20s.

David Martin was drafted as a WR and switched to TE, and the Dolphins tried the switch with Ernest Wilford as well. So why wouldn't they try a TE who can line up off the line, a la Dallas Clark, or even as a split end?

Check out this article on Dickerson's Pro Day - it talks about his 'position flexibility'. (Click on Quote)

"“I think he’s a tight end, but that’s going to be one of those things where the need of the team and the fit will be critical,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “Somebody that uses two tight ends and moves the guy, kind of like we used him, that’s what Dorin can do. And I know there are a lot of teams out there excited about what he can do. I think he just played consistent (for us). When his number was called, he responded.”"

According to one source, the Dolphins were not present at the Pitt pro-day. Based on experience, this generally means the Dolphins may be bringing in a Pitt player for a private workout - they generally don't attend the Pro Days of players they've already invited in (you may recall they waited to work-out receivers privately with Chad Henne last year, and will likely do the same this year).