DAVIE, Fla. -- Searching for a keeper at quarterback, the Miami Dolphins have tried Fiedler and Feeley. They've tried Green, Lemon and Sage. They've even tried two Chads.
But it has been 28 years since they've tried taking a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Dolphins might do it Thursday. Then again, they might use the No. 15 pick on a running back, an offensive lineman or even a defensive player.
No one can be sure, not even general manager Jeff Ireland, who will make the decision.
"I have a fairly good sense," he says. "It can come down to two or three guys."
The decision depends on what the teams drafting ahead of Miami do, but when the Dolphins' turn comes, several promising quarterbacks are certain to remain on the board. The list could include Ryan Mallett of Arkansas, Jake Locker of Washington, Christian Ponder of Florida State and Colin Kaepernick of Nevada.
"There's good depth there," Ireland said. "I think you can find a good player. I don't have a crystal ball about what kind of players they're going to be in this league. There are a lot of things that go into play, but I think it's a good depth group. There are starters to be had."
A solid starter at quarterback is what the Dolphins need most. They've finished 7-9 the past two years with Chad Henne, who briefly lost his job last season and is increasingly viewed as a second-round washout. Chad Pennington is no longer an option as he recovers from yet another shoulder operation. And the NFL lockout indefinitely delays free agency as the source of an upgrade.
So perhaps the Dolphins will use their first-round pick on a passer. They last did that in 1983, with the 27th overall choice: Dan Marino.
Since then, Miami has used six first-round picks on running backs, four on receivers and even four on tackles. In the meantime, QB has become a revolving door, with 15 starters in the 12 seasons since Marino retired.
They include Jay Fiedler, A.J. Feeley, Trent Green, Cleo Lemon, Sage Rosenfels ... The list is tougher to remember than the date of the Dolphins' most recent playoff victory (Dec. 30, 2000).
While Mallett, Locker, Ponder or Kaepernick could join that list, some draft analysts project all four being taken in the second round or later. And after picking 15th, Miami doesn't have another choice until No. 79 overall, midway through the third round.
What's Ireland looking for in evaluating quarterbacks?
"You're looking for all of it," he said. "You're looking for Peyton Manning. You're looking for Tom Brady. You're looking for arm strength, accuracy, a quick release, good footwork, intangibles, smarts, mental toughness."
Mallett's selection seems the most difficult to project. He's 6-foot-7 with a strong arm and poor mobility. Ireland was sufficiently intrigued to host the big Razorback for a two-day visit.
"I have spent a lot of time with him, not going to deny that," Ireland said. "He's a nice young man, very talented kid, got a bright future."
The question is whether his future is with the Dolphins, who finished next-to-last in the AFC in scoring last year. Henne was widely viewed as part of the problem, and Ireland and coach Tony Sparano have sent out mixed signals this offseason about his status, mixing praise with faint praise.
Sparano said Henne improved last year with his movement in the pocket and accuracy on intermediate passes, but needs to be better on deep throws.
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"All you have to do is go back through the 900-something snaps that this guy has played and say, 'Did he show progress? Did he get better in different areas?' And yes, he did," Sparano said.
So the Dolphins might decide none of the available quarterbacks are worth the No. 15 pick. If so, they have plenty of other needs to address.
Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams both become free agents this offseason, and it's possible neither will rejoin the Dolphins, which makes the selection of Alabama's Mark Ingram a possibility.
"Everybody says you can find running backs later in the draft," Ireland said. "I think if you look at the top running backs in this league over time, they're going to be first- and second-round picks."
On the other hand, the Dolphins have holes in the offensive line, and one might be plugged by Florida center Mike Pouncey. Or they could opt for defense, which they did with seven of their eight draft picks last year.
Seeking a solution at quarterback might wait. After all, the Dolphins haven't used a top-15 pick on a passer since 1967, when they selected Bob Griese.
Such history probably won't influence the Dolphins' decision Thursday, but maybe it should: The last two times they took a QB in the first round, he went on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
