If the Dolphins do not draft a quarterback in Round 1 their fans might start panicking. Here are five players Miami might draft with the No. 5 pick.
With all due respect to Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins need to do everything they can to make sure he’s not their starting quarterback in 2020. That might require Miami to spend big in free agency, but their more likely path towards a new signal caller will be to select them in the first round of this year’s draft.
If the Dolphins’ brain trust doesn’t go that route, the team will almost certainly find itself making another high draft choice in 2021. Miami simply has to find a quarterback they can start to build their offense around. Neither Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen is that kind of player.
As a result, this list of five most likely players for the Dolphins to draft in the first round will be heavy on signal callers. That isn’t the only position Miami needs to address via the draft, but it is the most important.
5. Tristan Wirfs
There’s a reasonable argument to be made that the Dolphins shouldn’t spend valuable draft capital on a quarterback before they build a line capable of protecting him. Adding a natural pass blocker like Wirfs would be a reasonable move by Miami’s front office.
It would also be a significant reach with the fifth overall pick. Wirfs is a nice prospect, but he shouldn’t go quite that high. if the Dolphins do evaluate him as the top tackle in this year’s class, they’d be wise to trade down and pick up another draft pick or two in the process.
Even if Miami didn’t reach for Wirfs with their current selection, it could pay off if he develops into a high-quality starter at left tackle. Beating out Julie’n Davenport isn’t the goal here. Instead, its finding a starter at tackle that can help anchor the line for years to come.