Making the case for and against three Miami Dolphins trade deadline moves

The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. Nov. 1 and multiple high-profile players have already swapped teams this season, from running back Christian McCaffrey to pass rusher Robert Quinn.

The Dolphins, at 4-3, view themselves as playoff contenders and have the resources to make a move. Despite losing a first-round pick as punishment for their tampering scandal, Miami has a pick in every round of the 2023 Draft, plus an additional third-rounder from the deal that sent wide receiver DeVante Parker to the New England Patriots. The Dolphins also have the cap space — $5 million, according to the NFL Players Association’s public salary report — to absorb an incoming player’s remaining salary.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he remains in frequent communication with general manager Chris Grier about potential moves.

“He’s going through all that stuff constantly and then keeping me abreast when things are real enough or when he knows that it could potentially get real so we need to start talking about a decision,” McDaniel said Monday.

Here are three paths the Dolphins could take ahead of the trade deadline — acquiring a cornerback, offensive lineman and trading away a player — and cases for and against those decisions.

Trade for a starting cornerback

Case for: The absence of Byron Jones has shown how invaluable two shutdown cornerbacks are for the Dolphins defense. The season-ending Achilles injury to Nik Needham only further limited the flexibility in the secondary. Getting a starting-caliber cornerback — for example, Washington’s William Jackson, who has expressed a desire to be in a man-heavy scheme as opposed to zone — could allow coordinator Josh Boyer more freedom to call Cover 0 blitzes at a high rate and fluster quarterbacks even more.

Case against: The Dolphins have had multiple players step up in the wake of injuries, most recently Noah Igbinoghene and Justin Bethel. Kader Kohou and Keion Crossen are expected to return to the lineup soon, and McDaniel hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Jones returning at some point this season. Plus, getting an impact corner could cost more than the Dolphins are willing to give up.

Trade for an offensive tackle

Case for: The Dolphins saw how their offense can fall apart with injuries to the offensive line. Right tackle Austin Jackson has missed the last six games with an ankle injury and his timeline to return to the field is undetermined. Left tackle Terron Armstead has been playing through a toe injury that forced him to miss one game and leave another after two drives. An extra swing tackle provides a contingency plan should Armstead be forced out of the lineup again or other players start to struggle.

Case against: Brandon Shell has stepped up and played well in his last two games at right tackle. McDaniel has also said he anticipates Jackson will return and contribute at some point this season. While Jackson only played 14 snaps in Week 1 before his injury, he showed improvement in training camp and the Dolphins need to see him on the field when healthy to evaluate his progress in Year 3.

Trade an underutilized pass-catcher for depth, picks, cap space

Case for: Tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. have had limited roles in the Dolphins’ new-look offense. Both are on pace to set career-low numbers for catches and yards in a season. The Dolphins have players who they either trust more on offense — e.g. Trent Sherfield, River Cracraft, Durham Smythe — or are young and viewed as potential contributors in the future — Hunter Long, Erik Ezukanma. In the case of Gesicki, who is on the one-year franchise tag, the Dolphins could recoup draft picks greater than the maximum third-round pick they would receive if he left in free agency. For Wilson, who was signed 10 days before the team traded for Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins could get cap relief from the three-year, $22 million deal.

Case against: The Dolphins have seen how injuries have shrunk the depth at different positions, and Grier has said you can never have too many good players. Smythe has been dealing with a hamstring injury and Hunter Long has yet to make the impact that was envisioned when he was selected in the third round of the 2021 Draft. Though Gesicki’s role has decreased, his two-touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings showed he can still impact a game. Grier has also said the team isn’t actively shopping Gesicki. And While Wilson hasn’t much of a role this season, he’s still an accomplished slot receiver who can contribute in the passing game, should injuries arrive.