This new Dolphins GM will closely scrutinize injury history, patterns

The Miami Dolphins have been among the league leaders in games lost due to injury for too long. Will first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan steer clear of players with medical red flags in the NFL Draft , which runs Thursday April 23-Saturday April 25? In a meeting with local reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine , Sullivan said what concerns him most is a pattern of injury.

"I think anytime you see a pattern of any kind, whether it's behavioral, injury history, you know, dips in performance, I think you have to, you know, I think you're being irresponsible if you don't look at that for what it is," Sullivan said. Sullivan specifically said at a pre-draft news conference that a mentor of his once suggested trying to hit a bunch of doubles instead of always going for the home run draft picks. There are some high-upside players who may very well be on the board when Miami is drafting, who have been the subject of healthy scrutiny in recent weeks or months.

For example, would Sullivan consider wide receiver Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State ― an incredible athlete, when healthy? Tyson has had a multi-ligament knee injury, a broken collarbone and recurring soft-tissue injuries such as hamstring issues. NFL Draft : Dolphins must be cautious on injury histories Sullivan may have to pass on Tyson and shift focus to a receiver with a later pick who may not have the extraordinary upside of Tyson, but upside nonetheless.

Would Sullivan consider talented Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 11th pick? Recent medical reports are troubling. McCoy missed last season with a torn ACL.