The Miami Dolphins are a hot mess. There are not many other ways to say it. From Tyreek Hill’s season-ending blow up – and his recent issue that made headlines for the wrong reasons – to the recent unexplained decision to try to trade Jalen Ramsey, Miami has made headlines for the wrong reasons this offseason.
Their transactions this year haven’t done much to restore the trust of the fanbase in the front office either. Following the loss of Calais Campbell in free agency to the modest (and cheap) free agent signings, Miami still has a plethora of holes to fill in their roster. Two starting cornerbacks are needed. Likely a starting safety. A starting defensive tackle needs to be found, as does a starting guard. Depth across the defensive line and secondary need to be improved upon as well.
Thus, with the primary wave of free agency gone, the NFL draft is of the utmost importance to find help for this season. The Dolphins have 10 picks in the draft, so they have some opportunity to do that. However, just three of those are in the first three rounds, with their last coming right at the end of round three as a compensatory pick (98 overall). Miami also has picks 13 and 48.
The Miami Dolphins strongly need to consider trading down in the first round of the draft.
As such, the Dolphins should be a strong candidate to trade down in this draft on Thursday night. As mentioned, the need to find at least four or five starters is evident and finding them among players outside of your top three rounds is obviously more difficult. A trade back could help net an extra pick or two on day two of the draft, which could certainly result in finding another potential starter.
Miami has the flexibility to do it because they have several desperate needs across the board. Now, of course general managers like to find difference makers and take the ones they consider to be the best player available. But the Dolphins don’t quite have that luxury this offseason. A trade back could still result in quality candidates being on the board to address a number of positions that lack starters.
This isn’t the situation of a contender looking for a key piece to get them over the top. This is about finding pieces to be able to just survive this year.
The Dolphins are also in a good spot to do it at 13. They’re right after the apparent quarterback-needy teams are picking, with the Saints the last one in front of them at 9 without a quarterback. If someone is high on Jaxson Dart or Shedeur Sanders, should one or both drop, Miami could get a call from someone motivated to take a leap, such as perhaps Pittsburgh at 21.
But if the QBs are all gone, there will still be a number of intriguing candidates pushed down the board, including perhaps someone like Ashton Jeanty (not too likely, but would have a ton of interest) or Tetairoa McMillan. Someone the Dolphins aren’t desperate to take and could have leverage to move down if they’re remaining on the board.
The bottom line is the Dolphins have to find some instant impact players in this draft. It’s a crucial year for Chris Grier. It’s equally pressing for Mike McDaniel. Stephen Ross has said the status quo won’t cut it this year. If that’s the case, this roster has to get MUCH better, and quickly. It might take getting netting more draft picks in order to comply with that mandate.
