2017 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins Select DE Charles Harris at No. 22

With the 22nd pick in the 2017 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

The selection and write-up were made by anthszabo:

They're are a lot of ways to go here. The Dolphins need depth and explosiveness at every level of the defense. They also could use a guard here being that anyone of half a dozen available in this spot could probably walk right in and start. But this armchair GM is going after a DE, one that won't start right away, but certainly fills a need.

On one side of the D-line is Cameron Wake, who is 35 and just signed through 2018. Andre Branch, 27, will start on the other side and just signed a deal that is guaranteed through 2018 as well. Wake has definitely reached the back 9 of his career and Branch has had issues with consistency. Behind them there is not much depth. The staff might feel comfortable inserting veteran William Hayes into the lineup, but he is mediocre at best and just restructured his contract to take a year OFF his deal. Harris would arrive rather polished for a prospect and fits perfectly into a 4-3 scheme able to play anywhere from the 5 to the wide 9. He could spell either starter, be a situational pass rusher, and be groomed for a big role in the future while getting in close to 50% of the snaps this season.

The 'Phins definitely need linebacking help and secondary help as well, so I'd expect them to concentrate on addressing the defensive side of the ball in what is a strong class of defenders. They can get a guard and some running back depth in the late rounds.

Pokorny: When Wake broke out for the Dolphins in 2009, I just kind of assumed that was the start of his career as an undrafted free agent...but his initial attempt to make the NFL was way back in 2005. So age is certainly a concern at that position, and something Miami should look at with their first overall pick. They might benefit more immediately with help in the secondary, but all of the cream-of-the-crop players from the secondary went early.

The New York Giants are up next, led by impulseCTRLissues.