Miami Dolphins: 5 best draft picks of all-time

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Football: Miami Dolphins Jason Taylor (99) victorious after game New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium. Final game of Taylor’s NFL career. Miami Gardens, FL 1/1/2012 CREDIT: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X86706 TK1 R2 F372 ) /

Jason Taylor. 2. player. 59. . Defensive End. Akron

There wasn’t that much time between Taylor in high school being a basketball player and Taylor being in the NFL as one of the best defensive ends to play in the last two decades. As a tall, lanky former Akron Zip, Taylor came into the league with high hopes after being picked No. 73 in 1997 and lived up to each one.

During his first 11 season stint with the Dolphins, Taylor managed to just be named to the Pro Bowl six times, be named an All-Pro four times and twice be named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year. He would have 117 sacks during that first stint, adding 14 more during the 2009 and 2011 seasons he also played for Miami.

Twice, Taylor left Miami to play elsewhere (including the 2010 season with the rival New York Jets) but always came back to his second home in South Florida. For his career, Taylor had 139.5 sacks, 47 forced fumbles, and eight interceptions and will go down as one of the best for a franchise that has been known to have great defensive stars.

Next: No. 1 - Dan Marino

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