Since losing Sean Smith to the Chiefs prior to the 2013 season, the Dolphins have struggled to find a corner to play opposite Brent Grimes. Now that free agent bust Cortland Finnegan has been released, Miami’s top options at its No. 2 CB spot are third-year pros Jamar Taylor and Will Davis, neither of whom inspire much confidence. As such, the club could look to the draft to fill its corner void, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins will meet with Trae Waynes (Michigan State), Jalen Collins (LSU), and Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest), all of whom are potential first-round picks.
Along with the previously-reported visit of CB/S Eric Rowe (a projected second-rounder), Miami will have used four of their 30 allotted prospect visits on cornerbacks. Per Jackson, the Dolphins view free agent signee Brice McCain purely as a nickel corner, where he’ll replace Jimmy Wilson. Therefore, with Taylor and Davis both recovering from injuries, a first-round cornerback would presumably be asked to step into the starting lineup immediately.
The Dolphins have spent the offseason trying to upgrade their secondary — they were reportedly the runner-up in the Buster Skrine sweepstakes, while they’ve also expressed interest in potentially-available Eagles CB Brandon Boykin (though Boykin, like McCain, is primarily a slot corner, so there wouldn’t seem to be a role for him in Miami). If the Fins fail to use a draft pick on a cornerback, they could turn to the free agent market, which while relatively barren, still has some veteran options like former 49er/Raider Tarell Brown.
For his part, Jackson believes the Dolphins will ultimately use the 14th overall pick on either a corner or a wide receiver, as the club has used quite a few of its draft visit quota on those two positions. On a similar note, James Walker of ESPN.com looked this morning at whether it would make sense for Miami to trade down and acquire more draft picks.