SB Nation Writers Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick #56

by Dan Kadar on Apr 16, 2009 3:00 PM EDT in SB Nation Writers Mock Draft

No. 56

MIAMI
DOLPHINS
Pick by The Phinsider

Alphonso Smith
Cornerback
Wake Forest

One cornerback isn't enough for Matty I of The Phinsider after taking Darius Butler in the first. He continued the defensive trend with his first second-round selection of Robert Ayers.

My gamble has paid off! Back at pick 44, I was torn between one of the corners on the board or the highest-rated player remaining on my board. I went with the highest rated player, Robert Ayers. Some questioned the pick because me may not be an ideal candidate for a 3-4 defense. But having selected CB Darius Butler at pick 25, I decided I could wait on taking another corner until 56 because I had a feeling my guy would drop. So I selected the best player available, according to my board, and will let our coaches find a way to get him on the field, whether it's at WOLB, SOLB, or DE. When you have a shot at a Pro Bowl caliber player, you take him and then make a spot for him. After all, we are in the "talent acquisition" business and by taking Ayers instead of reaching on another player, we acquired a major talent.

As I said, my risk paid off now. Alphonso Smith is such a talented cornerback. Many scouts believe that if the 5'9 Smith was just 2 or 3 inches taller, he'd be the top rated corner in the draft. He has amazing ball skills - perhaps the best of all the corners in this draft. While his height is certainly a limitation, I think that Smith, in his worst-case scenario as a player, will be a GREAT nickel back. And, of course, his best-case scenario would probably be as a very good starting corner. To me, that's well worth the 56th overall pick - especially with the Dolphins likely to head into the 2010 offseason with three free agent corners, including current starter Will Allen.

MTD thoughts: Smith here is a great value pick. I'm really not sure why he dropped quite this far in this mock. However, I'm not sure it's a smart pick. A wide receiver is really needed and someone like Ramses Barden would fit really well with smaller receivers Ted Ginn and Davone Bess.

Mocking the Draft's Top Five Remaining Prospects - QB Josh Freeman, RB Shonn Greene, CB Victor Harris, DT Jarron Gilbert, RB Javon Ringer

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Comments

oh no

the Panthers are the only team left before 61 that would need a young QB (Pats have the franchise and developmental guys and Ravens have Flacco) if they don’t take him then he’ll fall to 61

then BBS will probably take him

then I will cry.

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 16, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

Great pick I think.

I’ve seen all three Miami picks in the 1st round in one mock or another.

by LantermanC on Apr 16, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

Smith and Butler have the potential to be the next Madison and Surtain

Assuming Matty’s mock is accurate.

"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"

-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic

by Patssuck456 on Apr 16, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

great pick Matty

phins are not like to draft a WR until after round 4. With Butler and Smith one very well could start the other nickel and with 3 being UFA next year W. Allen isn’t a must sign guy at an inflated price. I think the phins will draft 3 cbs in draft. The only other pick I would have ok with Matty taking is Gilbert. Very nice Matty now if we can get this draft come the 25 and 26 as our first 3 picks we’ll be throwing a week long party :)

25th pick - Clay Mathews LB USC
44th pick - Alphonso Smith cb Wake Forest
56th pick - Clint Sintim LB Virginia
86th pick - Fili Moala DT USC

by Blaze453 on Apr 16, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions