2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 15

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Miami Dolphins, at No. 15 overall.

Matt Infante of ThePhinsider.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Dolphins, and checking out The Phinsider for all of your Dolphins needs.

Matt Infante explains: In a perfect world, the Dolphins will be able to move down from the 15th overall pick and reacquire a second-round pick. Unfortunately, this mock draft prohibits trades, leaving me with a difficult decision.

The Dolphins are clearly in the market for a quarterback. But none of the quarterbacks available really present good value at the 15th pick. The team has a need along the interior offensive line as well, but unless the guard or center is an absolute can’t-miss stud, 15 is far too early to address that need. And there is not a speed receiver with a mid-first round grade.

That means the Dolphins have no choice in this situation but to select the draft’s top running back, Mark Ingram. With Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs all unrestricted free agents, the Dolphins have a glaring hole at the running back position. While I’m not a fan of drafting first-round running backs, this is really the only logical pick if the Dolphins are forced to select at 15. He’s the top talent remaining on the board who also happens to fill a huge need.

Dan Kadar reacts: The 2011 NFL Draft looks like it will heavily skew toward the offense for the Dolphins. While the idea is out there that running backs shouldn’t be drafted early, this is a good spot for Ingram. Even if the Dolphins bring back any of their unrestricted free agent running backs, they’re all up there in age.

This would also be a spot to watch for quarterbacks Jake Locker or Christian Ponder coming off the board. It’s early for both, but it wouldn’t be a surprise. [Mark Ingram Scouting Report]