Miami Dolphins need to lay foundation for the future with this draft class
By Brian Miller
It’s time for the Miami Dolphins to put the pieces in place to take over the AFC East in a few years.
State Of The Team
The Miami Dolphins are in a full rebuild after firing Adam Gase and hiring former Patriots defensive coach Brian Flores. Miami is expected to build the roster up from the offensive and defensive trenches and then focus on a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. Miami’s off-season is going to be interesting as several positions are expecting to be purged to get the salary cap under control. This “purge” will have an impact on what the Dolphins do in April’s draft. Miami will likely enter the draft with a major need at defensive end where they may be releasing or not re-signing four of their starters from the last three years, including Cameron Wake.
Total Draft Picks
The Miami Dolphins have seven draft picks in 2019.
Round 1: No. 13
Round 2: No. 48
Round 3: No. 78
Round 4: No. 116
Round 5: No. 151
Round 6: No. 188
Round 7: No. 234
Top 3 Draft Needs
Defensive end – The Miami Dolphins are expected to part ways with Robert Quinn, Andre Branch, and did not re-sign Cameron Wake or William Hayes. This would leave the team with only Charles Harris on the outside and he isn’t very good. Miami will enter the Draft with a big need at fixing this position.
Cornerback – The Dolphins have a top corner in Xavien Howard but there is a turnstile on the other side where Cordrea Tankersley has yet to develop. Miami needs to get better in the secondary if they are going to give Brian Flores the talent to run the same style of defense he ran in New England.
Offensive line – The Dolphins need to get better on the offensive line and Ja’Wuan James left via free agency, leaving the Dolphins with a hole at right tackle. They still need to find starting caliber guards on both sides of the center.
Top 3 Draft Targets
Decision Maker (Or Who To Blame If Things Go Wrong)
This year the Miami Dolphins have turned over all personnel decisions to Chris Grier, who will no longer answer to anyone but owner Stephen Ross.
Best/Worst Pick In Current Draft Slot
Historically, who was the best pick and the worst pick based on where the team is currently picking.
Best Pick: Laremy Tunsil – Offensive Lineman – Round 1 (Pick 13) in 2017
The Dolphins best pick at 13th is still on the roster. Laremy Tunsil was drafted in 2016 and has become one of the best left tackles in the NFL and still has yet to reach his full potential. He is considered a cornerstone piece of the Dolphins re-build this year. The best overall selection at 13th came in 1997 when the Chiefs selected tight-end Tony Gonzalez who is now a Hall of Fame player. Gonzalez helped re-write the history of the tight-end position.
Worst Pick: Percy Snow – Linebacker – Round 1 (Pick 13) in 1990
The worst pick came in the 1990 draft when the Kansas City Chiefs selected LB Percy Snow with the 13th overall pick in that years draft. Snow lasted only three seasons in the NFL. He posted 2 sacks and 1 interception in those three years and started only 15 of 40 games.
The Falcons have had a pick fall between the 10th and 20th lots in the first round 12 times in franchise history. When looking at the best and the worst taken in the middle picks of the first round, it gets kind of tough to decipher the best.
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