The Miami Dolphins need to beef up at linebacker, so which prospects could they target after the first round in the 2017 NFL Draft

The Miami Dolphins shocked a lot of the football world last season, reeling off six straight victories in the middle of the season, and nine out of 11 total. That impressive streak was good enough to get the Dolphins to their first playoff appearance since 2008. By all rights, it was a great start to the Adam Gase era in Miami.

But that success was had largely in spite of the defense. Miami finished in the bottom three against the rush last season, and were middle of the pack against the pass. Their success against the pass was largely due to the fact that teams could run at will on Miami, so why pass more than you have to? If the Dolphins are going to build on the successes of last season, they are going to need to improve their front seven in a big way.

Lucky for them, the 2017 NFL Draft is the perfect opportunity to improve a defense. This draft class is one of the deepest I have ever seen at every level of the defense. Though they put in some work during the offseason at the linebacker position, it’s likely the Dolphins aren’t done addressing the position. If the team decides to beef up the defensive line, offensive line, or another position in the first round, who are some linebackers they could target after round 1? Let’s take a look at the top 5 linebackers available after Day 1.