Draft day for the Miami Dolphins is all about quantity, not quality. They have accumulated 11 picks in this year’s draft, but only three of them are in the top 100. And only five are in the first four rounds. They have four picks in the 200s, from no.224 to no.256.
There is not a more tenuous situation in the league than what the Dolphins live with, literally on every snap of the ball. Any QB in the league can go out with an injury, but no QB is as vulnerable as Tua Tagovailoa. He has had numerous serious concussions, and he’s missed a ton of time because of it. He just can’t be relied upon to play all 17 games. And at the age of 27, he should now be entering the prime of his career.
Concussions have shortened the careers of many athletes, Andrew Luck and Troy Aikman left the game far too soon. Tua is going down the same path. He played 13 games in 2021 and 2022, and while he managed to play all 17 games in 2023; last season he missed six games.
Last year, because of his absence, the team was only 8-9 and gave up more points than they scored. With those first five picks, they need to ensure getting at least one offensive lineman to protect their QB. Last season their QBs were sacked 43 times. The other picks need to be devoted to defense. Last season they gave up 21.41pts, which is pedestrian at best. They only sacked opposing QBs 35 times. And, they only made 10 interceptions, while only recovering six fumbles all year.
With their first pick at no.13 they will address their O-line. Even though the top two will be off the board, (Will Campbell and Armand Membou), the next two aren’t too shabby. If it wasn’t for a torn patellar tendon, Josh Simmons from Ohio St. would have also been gone. And the O-lineman who may turn out to be the best in this draft; is Kelvin Banks from Texas. He certainly is the most versatile, able to play anywhere on the line.
With their no.48 pick they could either address their D-line or their secondary. At this spot there are more viable options in the secondary to choose from. Two that should be available to them are CB Trey Amos from Ole Miss, and Xavier Watts, a safety from Notre Dame.
At no.98 there are still very solid players to choose from. One they should be targeting is DE Kyle Kennard from South Carolina. He is projected to go in the mid to late third round. With all of their extra draft capital at the end of the draft, if they need to package a few picks to move up and get him, they should. He is a 6’5, 255lb monster who is both powerful and quick off the ball. He had 11.5 sacks last season for the Gamecocks.
Beyond this pick, the Dolphins need to continue to bolster their defense and possibly sprinkle in a RB, with only Devon Achane currently as their main option. And even though they do have Hill and Waddle, you can never have too many solid receivers. With their two picks in the fourth could produce a pair of Miami Hurricanes. WR Xavier Restrepo is a slot receiver who could be a fantastic check-down option for Tagovailoa. And, Damien Martinez is a big, strong, and damaging RB when he gets up a head of steam.
Beyond that, many feel they need to also draft someone as a back-up QB. Even with this much draft capital, why waste a pick? A QB taken later in the draft probably isn’t a better option than a journeyman, career backup QB. The reality is, the Dolphins made their bed with Tua and will have to lay with him…for better or worse. Unless they actually decide to divorce him and start again, from scratch. The last viable QB in this draft is Riley Leonard from Notre Dame and he’s projected to go in the third round. If I’m the Dolphins there’s no way I spend such a valuable pick on him.