The Miami Dolphins have been among the league leaders in games lost due to injury for too long.
Will first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan steer clear of players with medical red flags in the NFL Draft, which runs Thursday April 23-Saturday April 25?
In a meeting with local reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, Sullivan said what concerns him most is a pattern of injury.
“I think anytime you see a pattern of any kind, whether it’s behavioral, injury history, you know, dips in performance, I think you have to, you know, I think you’re being irresponsible if you don’t look at that for what it is,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan specifically said at a pre-draft news conference that a mentor of his once suggested trying to hit a bunch of doubles instead of always going for the home run draft picks.
There are some high-upside players who may very well be on the board when Miami is drafting, who have been the subject of healthy scrutiny in recent weeks or months.
For example, would Sullivan consider wide receiver Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State ― an incredible athlete, when healthy?
Tyson has had a multi-ligament knee injury, a broken collarbone and recurring soft-tissue injuries such as hamstring issues.
NFL Draft: Dolphins must be cautious on injury histories
Sullivan may have to pass on Tyson and shift focus to a receiver with a later pick who may not have the extraordinary upside of Tyson, but upside nonetheless.
Would Sullivan consider talented Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 11th pick?
Recent medical reports are troubling.
McCoy missed last season with a torn ACL. It has now also been reported that McCoy has a potentially degenerative knee condition.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports McCoy has a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect that could potentially need to be replaced, in the opinion of some doctors.
McCoy may be an All-Pro corner. Or he may have a shortened career.
Is it worth the risk? What if he experienced a significant slide and was on the board for Miami at No. 30 overall?
This is Sullivan’s first draft. In general, we suspect he’ll play it a bit safe.
That said, in Sullivan’s pre-draft news conference he cautioned that each situation is weighed with complete independence.
“I mean, every situation is different,” Sullivan said. “You know, there’s not like a blanket philosophy. I mean, you certainly look at the injury history and the frequency and the significance of the injuries. It plays a part. But, you know, we have a medical team that’s second to none, and they give us great direction with that stuff. So every situation, every situation, is different with that. Yes, we take it into the equation, but it doesn’t always weigh the same.”
The Dolphins could be looking at players like defensive tackle Caleb Banks (multiple broken foot injuries) and wide receiver Chris Bell (torn ACL last season) in the second or third rounds. But do their injuries play a role in Sullivan’s assessments?
Of course they do. Remember Miami also needs and wants their rookie to play a lot and right away.
Is Francis Mauigoa’s back a Dolphins draft concern?
The most fascinating medical decision could involve Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
If available at No. 11, Mauigoa could play right guard as a rookie and potentially right tackle in years to come.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Mauigoa has a herniated disc in his back.
“Mauigoa returned to Indianapolis for a medical recheck two weeks before the draft,” Schefter said. “The back injury is not a significant issue now, and it is asymptomatic, but teams say that if it worsens at all, Mauigoa would then need surgery that could sideline him roughly three months. Some teams think he’ll eventually need the surgery at some point either way.”
Does this move Mauigoa down Miami’s board? Potentially even off it?
Every player is different. Every injury is different. Every doctor’s assessment is different.
The only thing we know for sure? One man will have final say on these complicated decisions: general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: This new Dolphins GM will closely scrutinize injury history, patterns
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
