Dolphins Draft Review

By Greg Fuchs

OK Dolfans, the first 2 days of the draft and rounds 1-3 are complete. And if you are still looking for a drafted running back, so am I. 

I am still digesting what the Dolphins did, but the 1st word that comes to mind is – Disappointed. But who am I to judge General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Brian Flores? They know a lot more about football than I do, have looked at a lot of tape on the players they selected and know how the players will fit into the Dolphins system. That said, I am still entitled to my opinion and I’m still disappointed.

In case you didn’t spend 9 hours the past 2 nights watching the draft, here is who the Dolphins selected. 

1st round – 6th pick: WR Jaylen Waddle from Alabama

1-18: Defensive End Jaelen Phillips from “The U”

2–36: Safety Jevon Holland from Oregon

2-42: Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame; Miami traded up from the 50th spot, which cost Miami a 2022 3rd round draft pick

3-81: TE Hunter Long from Boston College

So, what did I like, not like about the draft? Let’s go through each selection and compare it to what I was hoping the Fins would do (You can check out my article that I wrote on April 26 to verify my pre-draft thoughts).

I have zero problems with the selection of Waddle as their 1st pick. I had him as my selection assuming TE Kyle Pitts and WR Ja’Marr Chase were off the board, which they were. I am hoping the Tyreek Hill comparisons prove to be accurate, as Miami desperately needs a dynamic playmaker on the roster.

As for the 18th pick, I love Phillips as I felt he was the best overall defensive end in the draft and also filled a position of need. But I felt running back was also a huge position of need and it was likely none of the top 3 RBs would still be there when Miami picked at #36, hence my preference was to select Najee Harris. Phillips was my #2 choice, but Harris’ all-around ability, the Fins need for an elite RB and the likelihood none of the top 3 RBs would be there in the 2nd round when Miami picked were my rationale to take him at #18. 

At #36, since I had Miami taking the RB Harris in the 1st round, I had them taking the best edge rusher on the board. As it turned out, that would have been Azeez Ojulari, who the Giants ended up taking at #50 and who some people thought was the best pass rusher in the draft. But since the Fins had already taken an edge rusher with Phillips and since, as I had predicted, none of the top 3 RBs were still on the board, Miami selected Holland, a safety. This selection was a bit odd, as safety wasn’t a high position of need plus all the “experts” had Trevon Moehrig of TCU as the best safety in the draft. 

At #50, I had Miami selecting the best offensive lineman on the board, preferably a center, hopefully Landon Dickerson or Creed Humphrey. Fins management was also thinking offensive line, but were more enamored with Eichenberg. So much so that they were willing to give up a 2022 3rd round draft pick to move up to the #42 spot, which I felt was too high of a price to pay. Eichenberg appears to be a solid player who can play guard or tackle, but I would have stuck at #50, where Humphrey plus other O-linemen were still available. 

For the 81st pick, since I had Miami addressing their primary needs with their 1st 4 picks, I felt Miami should just take the proverbial best player available. Maybe a safety, another pash rusher, a linebacker or another offensive lineman. Apparently, Miami did take the best player available approach, but in their mind it was Long, a tight end. Nothing against Long, who appears to be a good player, but Miami already has 3 TEs and it was one of their strongest position groups last season. Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe are both free agents after the 2021 season, so that may have been part of their rationale for selecting Long or maybe they will trade one of them in the coming months. 

I would have gone with an offensive lineman, as there were still several good ones on the board or defensive end Ronnie Perkins, who the Patriots took with the 96th pick. Ohio St. RB Trey Sermon was also still on the board, who as a bigger back would have been a nice complement to the smaller Miles Gaskin.

Based on post draft comments by Grier and Flores, 2 things were clear. One, they loved all 5 players they drafted and were nervous that Phillips, Holland, Eichenberg and Long would be selected before they got to Miami. And two, they are very comfortable with the running backs they currently have on the roster. Gaskin, Malcom Brown and Salvon Ahmed are all solid RBs, but none, in my opinion, are #1 running backs with the talent of Najee Harris.

In summary, would you rather have Waddle, Phillips, Holland, Eichenberg and Long or Waddle, Harris, Ojulari, Humphrey and Perkins (or another O-lineman) plus still having your 2022 3rd round draft pick? I’ll go with the latter, primarily due to Harris and the 3rd round draft pick. 

Do I dislike any of the players the Dolphins drafted? No, as they all should be solid additions to the roster. Do I feel better now that I have vented? A bit. Am I still disappointed? Yep! I just don’t get Miami’s indifference to the running back position, especially since this is the 2nd year in a row they have ignored it. In case you forgot, in the 2020 draft they passed on Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers and J.K. Dobbins. 

Day 3 of the draft is on Saturday for rounds 4-7, but don’t expect much from the Dolphins as they only have 1 pick in the 5th round and 2 in the 7th round, hence I will likely still be left with the feeling of disappointment.