DAVIE, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins devoted a pick to defense for the first time in this year's NFL draft when they selected Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens in the fourth round Saturday.
Aikens will compete for playing time with free agent acquisition Cortland Finnegan and second-year cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis and opposite Pro Bowler Brent Grimes. Nolan Carroll, a starter last year, and Dimitri Patterson departed in free agency.
Aikens was convicted of misdemeanor theft in 2010 and transferred from Illinois to Liberty, where he became a three-year starter.
The Dolphins drafted Tennessee right tackle Ja'Wuan James, Louisiana State receiver Jarvis Landry and North Dakota State tackle Billy Turner in the first three rounds.
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