You knew it was bad, but did you know it was this bad?
The endless stream of draft-pick swaps that never panned out. The mediocre picks, the bad picks and the good picks that weren’t great.
De’Von Achane, the shining example of what the other moves were supposed to be but weren’t.
Watch NFL Draft on Fubo
That’s the recent history of the Miami Dolphins in the NFL Draft. It’s why this team is starting from scratch with not just a new coach and new general manager, but as much of a complete flip of the roster as you can get in one year.
Fact: The Dolphins have just 16 players on their roster who were drafted by Miami — and all but three arrived in the past two drafts. The longtime holdovers are offensive tackle Austin Jackson, linebacker Cameron Goode and Achane.
There’s no comparison to what championship teams look like. Of the Super Bowl teams from last season, Seattle has 27 home-grown players and New England, 22. Besides being the product of wise drafting, it’s how to game the salary cap. Young players don’t cost as much, and there’s much less reliance on overpaid free agents.
Each year at this time, most every publication covering the draft scrambles to instantly analyze the local team’s selections, with many (including this one) assigning grades before players try on their new uniforms. If you want a true reading on a draft class, let it percolate. Wait a few years. Give players such as Jackson a chance to become professionals.
That’s what today’s exercise is all about. And the short answer is what you see from the Dolphins isn’t pretty.
2021: A trade odyssey
How can you pull off 15 trades in a draft lasting just seven rounds? We don’t know, either, but then-general manager Chris Grier did it. Most significantly, the No. 3 overall pick acquired in the Laremy Tunsil trade was shipped to San Francisco as part of a complicated swap of picks that involved Philadelphia (don’t worry, you won’t be tested on this).
Just know that in the end, the pick the Dolphins did make was No. 6 overall, for receiver Jaylen Waddle.
A fine pick, especially since Waddle had three 1,000-yard seasons out of his five years in Miami.
But was it the best pick?
Remember that at one point, the Dolphins owned the third overall selection. Now consider that starting with pick No. 4 that year, teams went through a string of six picks in which five Pro Bowl players were chosen: tight end Kyle Pitts (Atlanta), receiver Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati), offensive tackle Penei Sewell (Detroit), cornerback Jaycee Horn (Carolina) and cornerback Patrick Surtain (Denver).
Waddle, talented as he is, was the exception.
The first three rounds of the draft also saw Miami select offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg and tight end Hunter Long, neither of whom proved worthy of such an investment. The other two high picks were linebacker Jaelan Phillips and safety Jevon Holland, who eventually had asking prices far beyond what the Dolphins could or would pay for their second contracts.
The remainder of the action primarily swirled around deals involving long-forgotten players such as Bernardrick McKinney, DeAndre Washington, Lynn Bowden and Adam Shaheen.
Not a single player acquired remains — and it’s only five years later.
Draft class grade: D-plus.
2022: Dolphins take a pass on this draft
The Dolphins effectively took Tyreek Hill in this draft since they sent three picks, including a first-rounder, to Kansas City for the speedy wide receiver.
Let’s put aside how Hill’s time in Miami ended, because any player could have suffered the injury he did. What’s left?
Do you credit the Dolphins for the two 1,700-yard seasons and leap-from-your-seat plays Hill made?
Or is your opinion jaded by his off-field drama that was part of the package?
Elsewhere in this draft, the Dolphins traded away the 15th overall pick, meaning they could have had one of two Pro Bowl offensive linemen (tackle Tyler Smith or center Tyler Linderbaum).
Their first selection that year was third-rounder Channing Tindall, a linebacker who made minimal impact on special teams. Receiver Erik Ezukanma, a fourth-rounder, was an annual August tease. Two seventh-rounders bringing value were Goode and quarterback Skylar Thompson. The Dolphins would have had another seventh-round pick but traded it to the Rams in 2019 as part of a deal involving cornerback Aqib Talib, who never intended to report.
Draft class grade: F.
2023: The Dolphins are not on the clock
The Dolphins could have had two picks in the top 29 (and both Zay Flowers and Sam LaPorta) but it didn’t turn out that way.
First, their pick, 21st overall, was forfeited in the tampering case involving owner Stephen Ross.
Then, the first-rounder acquired in a swap with the 49ers was sent to Denver for the services of Bradley Chubb for two seasons (he was injured for a third year, then became a salary cap casualty).
A third-round pick was the cost of two seasons of seeing Jalen Ramsey’s smiling face (that’s sarcasm), but at least that wasn’t the second-round mistake that was cornerback Cam Smith and his endless muscle pulls (that’s not sarcasm).
So to put a positive spin on this draft, if Achane had gone in the first round instead of the third in ’23, it still would be an excellent pick. In a string of drafts desperately searching for excellence, the Dolphins should be happy to take it.
Draft class grade: D-plus. Price must be paid for forfeiting a first-rounder. And the bust that was Smith.
2024: Third season will tell us plenty
The 2026 season will be an important year for members of this draft class, who have had their moments.
First-rounder Chop Robinson was a nominee for top defensive rookie honors but took a step back last season. Considering he’ll be the focal point of the pass rush in 2026, the Dolphins need him to surpass even his rookie self.
The Dolphins hit on second-rounder Patrick Paul, taken 58th overall and possibly on track to become a Pro Bowl left tackle.
Running back Jaylen Wright and receiver/return man Malik Washington should be steady contributors in 2026.
Midterm draft class grade: B
2025: Gaining experience, but improvement is mandatory
Last year’s eight-member class all got on the field as rookies, even seventh-rounders Quinn Ewers, a quarterback, and Zeek Biggers, a defensive tackle.
Everybody should get an opportunity again in 2026. Look for improvement starting with high picks Kenneth Grant at defensive tackle and Jonah Savaiinaea, a guard. More will be required of each of them.
Preliminary draft class grade: C
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ recent draft failures are why 2026 is rebuilding year
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
