After months of speculation, rumors, and hear-say, the day is finally here. It's NFL Draft week, folks! We've talked ourselves to death over these past few months about which prospects are going to have the best careers, which prospects are going to flame out and be a bust, which ones are unheralded now, but could be looked back on as the steal of the NFL Draft. Thursday night can't come soon enough.

For the Miami Dolphins, there's no shortage of directions the team could go on Thursday. The team could decide to address their glaring need at quarterback. They could remain committed to playing the long game, put the quarterback position on the back burner, and instead strengthen the trenches.

The team could even trade down in — or completely out of — the first round to accumulate more draft capital for next season. No matter which direction the team chooses, this year's NFL Draft will play a pivotal role in deciding the Dolphins' future.

No one outside of the Dolphins' war room knows for sure how the NFL Draft is going to play out for the team. If trading out of the 13th spot wasn't an option, these are the three players the Dolphins should be targeting.

Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

The Dolphins are in desperate need of help at pretty much every position on the roster. Edge rusher is no exception to that. Cameron Wake has left and found a new home in Tennessee. Andre Branch never lived up to the hype in Miami and has been released. Former first-round pick Charles Harris has been nothing short of a bust in a Dolphins uniform. Any way you slice it, Miami needs pass rush help. And they need it bad.

Brian Flores

While Ohio State's Nick Bosa and Kentucky's Josh Allen grab all the headlines in this year's NFL Draft, Florida State's Brian Burns should not be overlooked. For my money, Burns is every bit the skilled pass rusher that Bosa and Allen are. Maybe more so, even. It would not be surprising at all if Burns were to be selected in the top 10 Thursday night.

Burns to Miami at 13 may be the most far-fetched of these three options. However, if he's still on the board when it comes Miami's turn, he should be the team's top choice.

Jonah Williams, Offensive Line, Alabama

If there's one area on the Dolphins roster that needs more attention than edge rusher, it's along the offensive line. Miami has a perennial Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle in Laremy Tunsil. Beyond that, the cupboard is pretty bare along the line. With the departure of Ja'Wuan James, there's not a single player aside from Tunsil this front office should feel comfortable starting. Lucky for Miami, this year's NFL Draft boasts a strong class up front.

Brian Flores, Dolphins

If the Dolphins miss out on Brian Burns in the edge rush lottery, they could instead focus their attention in this direction. Jawaan Taylor from Florida is the best left tackle available in this year's class, but he's likely to be off the board by 13. It's just as well, that's the only position the Dolphins have covered. They could look to Washington State product Andre Dillard, but Alabama's Jonah Williams would be a better pick.

He may not have all the tools and athleticism to be a bookend left tackle in this league, but he can come in from day one and be a solid starter at nearly any position along the line. The Dolphins could immediately slot him in at right tackle or either guard position and instantly improve. The Dolphins should consider moving down the draft board if Burns isn't available, but Jonah Williams isn't a bad consolation prize.

Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback, Ohio State

If you're a Dolphins fan, you're probably sick and tired of hearing the “T-word” this offseason. It seems like all anyone wants to talk about is the idea that Miami is tanking this season. That they're going to field a team so bad they are all but guaranteed the top spot in next year's NFL Draft. The idea is that the team would punt on this year's crop of quarterbacks — in what most see as a down year — in favor of next year's group.

Dwayne Haskins

Next year's quarterback class figures to feature the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Jake Fromm, among others. On paper, it's a solid idea to hold off on quarterback until next season, but what if Dwayne Haskins is still on the board at 13? Do the plans change then?

The answer should be, absolutely. And without hesitation. If you believe that Haskins can be a franchise quarterback in this league, you have to pull the trigger. There is too much uncertainty in the NFL to pass up a franchise quarterback because you think a better one will be available next season. There's no guaranteeing you'll be in a position to draft the guy you want next season. You can't guarantee that he'll progress and be the clear-cut best option. And what if he suffers an injury?

If Haskins slides down the board to 13, you can't take any chances. Run to the podium and move up the timetable on your rebuild.