Why the Dolphins’ best draft strategy could feature a trade up
Based on a slew of reports in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 NFL Draft, it seems as though the Dolphins caught some bad fortunes with their late 1st-round strategy. It wasn’t the players the team was rumored to be targeting — it was the fact that other teams apparently knew who they were aiming for as well. The New Orleans Saints were exploring a potential trade back from No. 24 but, according to former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, stayed put once they learned that the Dolphins had interest in the Saints’ eventual pick, center Cesar Ruiz.
On a call with donors to the Louisiana-Lafayette Athletic Foundation today, Jeff Ireland said the Saints had “pretty strong intel” that Miami and Kansas City would take Ruiz. They initially looked to trade back but called it off once they learned about other interest.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 13, 2020
But the very next pick at 25 was also a tough lesson for Miami, as well — and reports came out after the San Francisco 49ers jumped the Dolphins and drafted WR Brandon Aiyuk that Miami’s interest in their target was serious enough that the 49ers felt compelled to leap the Dolphins.
The #49ers said WR Brandon Aiyuk became a hot name late in the draft process and that their "intel" told them there was no way he'd last until pick 31. The team they were most concerned about: The #Dolphins at pick No. 26. After SF took Aiyuk, Miami traded out of their spot.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) April 24, 2020
None of this is confirmed, but Miami’s eventual trade back out of No. 26 after a rapid run on potential targets seems to indicate that Miami, once the board came around, didn’t like their options.
So with the Dolphins owning the No. 36 pick in this year’s draft, the team is going to find themselves in a similar situation. And if the Dolphins eventually discover that there’s a player on the board that they’re in love with but his availability at No. 36 is going to be in question, Miami should be sure to pull a page out of the San Francisco 49ers’ playbook from last year — trade up and go get your guy. The Dolphins’ roster is another year older, another year more well-stocked and more mature. The team isn’t necessarily going to require another 8-10 rookies this offseason and plan on them all making the active roster in the fall.
A dozen picks sure would be nice, but is it necessarily a “must”? If a late round selection (and potentially a 2022 mid-round selection) is the difference between Miami securing a top-flight prospect that they desire or missing out? Pivoting their strategy to avoid a repeat of last year my not be the worst thing.
