Note: 49ers and Seahawks draft segments have been updated.

25. Miami Dolphins

-Aaron Maybin (OLB-DE/Penn St)

Aaron Maybin (NFL.com)

The Big Tuna (Bill Parcells) engineered the comeback of the decade by turning the 1-15 Miami Dolphins into the 11-5 AFC East divisional champs. He addressed some of the teams’ most pressing needs in the ’08 draft, working hard to build the trenches and lay a strong foundation for the running game. This season Miami should be looking to add depth and to create some more in-house competition. The place Parcells especially likes to develop is the linebacking corps. By no means did the set of 4 starters do a poor job (recording 22.5 sacks). But Pro Bowl OLB Joey Porter is entering his 11th season, and Matt Roth would only benefit from adding a young player to challenge him to play at a higher level.

Furthermore, I looked closely at Bill Parcells draft history, and he has drafted 6 LB’s in the 1st round and 4 in the 2nd round. At every franchise he helped rebuild, he has used a 1st round pick on a LB in at least one of the first 3 years with the team. With the Giants, it was Carl Banks (3rd selection). While with the Jets, it was James Farrior (8th selection). In New England, Parcells used the 4th pick on Willie McGinest. And in Dallas, Demarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter, and Anthony Spencer (picked 11th, 18th, 26th respectively).   The average height of his drafted LB’s is 252 lbs and stands 6’3 1/2 inches tall.

If one of the top 3-4 OLB’s falls into his lap at 25, I believe he will count his blessings and choose that player.

Aaron Maybin is an intriguing prospect. He has been praised for having a superior burst off the edge, plays with high intensity, and has an athletic, lean physique that includes long arms to prevent opposing linemen from getting into his pads. On the flipside, he has been criticized for disappearing for large stretches, not being physical enough at the point of attack, and for possessing a small lower body that can’t generate a decent bull rush.

However, at 6’4 and 249 lbs, he is exactly the average size of Parcells’ linebackers and his productivity is more than sufficient (12 sacks last season).

One last note: Maybin had a solid pro day (ran 4.6 forty yard dash), which might push him back up a few spots. If he is unavailable here, Connor Barwin is also an enticing option for Miami. Clay Matthews is discounted from contention because of size factor and because he might fit better as a 3-4 ILB, which is not a need for the Dolphins at this time.

-Darius Butler (CB/Connecticut)

Darius Butler (NFL.com)

The other primary need that could be worthy of a 1st round selection is cornerback. The Dophins are thin after losing Andre Goodman to the Broncos. Will Allen and Jason Allen combined for a total of 4 interceptions last season. Plus, there is little depth to speak of behind them. Therefore, it seems likely that cornerback Darius Butler will be under consideration by Miami.

An amazing athlete, the 5’10 speedster ran somewhere around a 4.40 forty yard dash at his pro day, and recorded a 43 inch vertical at the combine. He is extremely smooth in his backpedal and high points the football well. Also, Butler’s lack of bulk wouldn’t be too important in the Dolphins off-coverage system.

Butler could break into the nickel spot with relative ease, and maybe crack the starting roster by season’s end.

According to the Miami Herald, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland has attended a handful of Connecticut games, and Parcells has mentioned how impressed he is with Butler.

Additionally, Bill Parcells has used 3 first round picks on cornerbacks during his NFL career (tied for second most 1st round picks on a single position).

-WR is a need, but Parcells doesn’t use many early picks on wide outs.

Next on the clock: Baltimore Ravens

See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here

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