Miami’s Drafting Issues Are Starting To Haunt Them
Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
Every NFL GM has a different strategy for building their team, and for Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, his is simple: trade draft picks away to get better players. The Dolphins haven’t been afraid to trade away draft picks to get established players or trade up in a draft to get a player they like for example, Jaylen Waddle. Trading away a third-round pick to get Jalen Ramsey and a first-round pick to get Bradley Chubb are examples of players they have gotten in return for draft picks.
No one will say those moves didn’t work out, but the price for aggression always takes its toll down the road. Trading away these draft picks has limited the number of players the Dolphins have been able to bring in over the last couple of years. It put Grier in a spot where he had to bring in roughly the same amount of talent with fewer resources and lower picks. You can only do more with less, from a drafting standpoint, if you hit a high percentage of home runs, and that hasn’t happened in the last few years.
In 2022, the Dolphins had only four picks, with their first coming at No. 102 overall. with pick 102. Linebacker Channing Tindall went in the third round, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma was taken in the fourth, and seventh-rounders Cameron Goode and Skylar Thompson rounded out the draft class.
Coming out of Georgia, Tindall was expected to be an impact player right away, but fast-forward two years, and that hasn’t been the case. Tindall is currently listed fifth on the depth chart at inside linebacker, and he hasn’t been active for a game yet this season. In his first two seasons, he only played roughly 10% of his snaps. Erik Ezukanma has only been active in one game so far this season, and although he was targeted twice against the Seattle Seahawks, he didn’t make a catch. Goode has bounced between the practice squad and active roster in Miami, and is currently on the PUP list.
Thompson is the only one the Dolphins 2022 class to make a start, but that might not be a good thing, based on his performance. Last week, against the Seahawks, he threw for only 107 yards. No home runs here.
The Dolphins’ draftees in 2023 had a little more impact, but not as much as they hoped. Cam Smith was selected with in the second round (No. 51 overall), but he quickly fell out of favor with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and was buried on the depth chart. The hope this offseason was that Smith would have more of an impact on the secondary, but he’s on the injured reserve and out at least another week. To be determined.
Credit where it’s due, getting De’Von Achane in the third round (No. 84) is the kind of home run Grier needed. Even in a loaded backfield last year, Achane finished with 800 yards of rushing and eight touchdowns. So far in 2024, he has rushed for 150 yards and caught 17 passes for another 173 yards and a touchdown. Achane is already one of the better backs in the league and is, unfortunately, the last real success of the 2023 class. Over 100 selections passed before Miami took receiver Elijah Higgins in the sixth round, then wrapped up their four selections with offensive lineman Ryan Hayes. Neither made the Dolphins roster.
In 2024, the Dolphins had seven draft picks, and none have made a major role yet on this team. Chop Robinson — their first Round 1 selection in three years — has shown flashes at times, but he still isn’t quite polished. Many were excited about the prospects of fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright, but now he’s a bit buried on the running back depth chart. Even with Raheem Mostert being out in Weeks 2 and 3, Mike McDaniel hasn’t dialed Wright’s number for many chances, and the rookie has just seven carries in two games this season.
That influx of young, cheap talent is the lifeblood of any organization, and we’re arguably seeing the fruits of trading away so much draft capital during Miami’s 1-2 start. Maybe that’s not totally fair because of Tua Tagavailoa’s injury… except the Dolphins were already getting embarrassed at home 31-10 before he left the game. It’s worth noting the Bills have exceeded Miami not just in the total number of draft picks over the past three seasons (24 to 15) but also quality picks (six in the top two rounds, compared to Miami’s three).
Unless Grier trades more draft capital away (which, given his history, is a strong possibility), the Dolphins are scheduled to have ten picks in the 2025 Draft. Whatever number they land at, it’s important that Grier and the Dolphins’ scouting team crushes that draft. Splashy, aggressive moves can no doubt keep a team afloat in a pinch, but it takes a steady stream of drafted talent to have sustained success. Besides Achane and, hopefully, Robinson, the Dolphins are in a drafting slump. If they don’t break it soon, it will catch up with the club… if it hasn’t already.
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