I went to the NFL Draft for the first time back when it was in NYC every year and Jake Long was our first pick and for some reason I just kept going back. I’ve missed a few years here and there but I think I have been to nearly a dozen of them over the years. Last year we didn’t have a first day pick so I almost didn’t go but I was already going to be out in LA and it’s a nice drive to Vegas from there so I decided it was worth extending my trip by a couple of days. This year we once again didn’t have a first round pick, and it was in Kansas City, but for some reason I signed up again and at least I got to eat a bunch of BBQ.

As many of you know, I am a photographer for a living and I love the access I get as a member of the “Inner Circle” the area in front of the stage where 24 fans from each team get ot sit. The Dolphins offer these spaces to the people who run fan clubs so I have been lucky to get seats there several times now. A lot of the same fans go every year so it’s been great to have a little reunion every year and take a ton of photos.

I guess I should say something about how I feel about our actual draft picks in a blog about the draft. With only four of them it was going to be hard to make a huge impact but I was really hoping to get offensive line help early. I am less concerned about tight end because we have so many other weapons but when Washington was still on the board at 84 I was a little disappointed we took a running back. I was kinda hoping we would trade for Cook so that sort of took him off the table (or did it?) After the disappointment wore off I came around to the first two picks a lot more. We have had such issues with secondary depth in the past and if Cam Smith is as good as he looks, that problem is solved. Plus with our aging corners, he’s obviously the future at an incredibly important position. Achane was easier to get excited about. Total BPA pick who is electric and makes so much sense in a McDaniel offense. Is he big enough? Will those ankle breaking moves work against NFL talent? I have no idea but there is huge upside for a player taken that late in the draft. In the sixth and seventh we addressed TE and the oline and I don’t know if either of those guys will pan out, but I am glad they addressed some needs… and Higgins seems he could have a huge upside as well (big, fast, smart, breaks tackles).

Anyway the Draft was a blast even without a first round pick and thanks a ton to the Dolphins for continuing to invite me to these things. I a bunch of photos so I hope you get a chance to look through them. I got photos of a bunch of the draft picks, all the superfans and even a couple of famous YouTubers if you (or your kids) are into that kinda thing. Check out the gallery via Flickr below…