Here are the 10 worst draft picks in Miami Dolphins history, taking into account each man’s contributions to the organization weighed against where they were selected:
1. DE Dion Jordan (Round 1, 2013)
Three was the man’s lucky number – or the Dolphins’ unlucky number. The Dolphins blew the No. 3 overall draft pick on Jordan – stunningly moving up to acquire him. He rewarded them with three career sacks over three seasons in Miami. That’s three seasons if you include 2015, when he was suspended for a drug violation. Credit Jordan, however, with coming clean recently on an appearance on “The Fish Tank” with ex-Dolphins receiver O.J. McDuffie and Seth Levit, former media relations coordinator for the Dolphins. “When I left the facility, it didn’t help because I’m out partying,” he said. “I’m enjoying the money that I have and I’m just putting myself being the eight ball. I’m hurt, you know. Sometimes I’m missing my rehabs, so that’s not helping.” Words like that make you wonder how Jordan’s career would have panned out had he taken his current wisdom as a 35-year-old and transferred it into the body of his 23-year-old rookie self. Among the players the Dolphins bypassed when taking Jordan: OT Lane Johnson, TE Travis Kelce, OT Terron Armstead.
ON THE OTHER HAND: We ranked Dolphins’ 10 best NFL draft picks of all time. Here’s who made the cut
2. DE Eric Kumerow (Round 1, 1988)
This pick was such an out-of-the-blue reach that the headline in The Miami Herald the next day was simply a giant WHO? On the bright side, he did manage to outdo Jordan, amassing five sacks in three seasons. (Well, maybe “amass” isn’t the best way to describe it, but you get the idea.) Starting with the 11th overall pick (WR Michael Irvin) and ending at No. 19 (G Randall McDaniel), there were nine players drafted. Seven had Pro Bowl careers. The Dolphins managed to grab one of those two.
3. DE Charles Harris (Round 1, 2017)
What is it with first-round defensive ends, anyway? Harris also lasted only three seasons in Miami, managing just 3.5 sacks. This despite teammates repeating the company line about what a great first move he had, one that tackles would struggle to match. The odd thing is, two years after leaving Miami, Harris landed in Detroit, where he enjoyed a 2021 season with 7.5 sacks. So maybe he wasn’t a horrible pick but, rather, a horrible pick for Miami. On the board at the time: LB T.J. Watt.
WHAT IF: Revamping NFL playoff formula; how it would have affected Dolphins through the years
4. CB Jamar Fletcher (Round 1, 2001)
It’s not so much the player Jamar Fletcher was, but the player he wasn’t. The Dolphins went for a guy who gave them little return (two INTs over three seasons) but in doing so, bypassed a player still on the board at the time. Name: Drew Brees, quarterback, Purdue. With that, the Dolphins extended their long-lasting search for the next Dan Marino.
5. WR Yatil Green (Round 1, 1997)
Starting to sense a pattern here when it comes to Miami’s first-round picks? Green had 18 receptions for 234 yards his rookie season. Problem is, when he finished his NFL career, he had … 18 receptions for 234 yards.
6. LB Jackie Shipp (Round 1, 1984)
7. LB Jay Brophy (Round 2, 1984)
Was this what George Orwell was trying to warn us about in ’84? Two picks among the top 53 to solve Miami’s huge hole at linebacker, yet neither guy fit the bill. Brophy was injury-prone. Shipp, taken in a trade-up, simply wasn’t first-round material.
8. DE Don Reese (Round 1, 1974)
It’s not just a lack of production that earns Reese a spot here. It’s that he was arrested by police and charged with drug trafficking. He wrote a 1982 Sports Illustrated cover piece entitled “I’m Not Worth a Damn.” He certainly wasn’t worth picking over TE Dave Casper, LB Jack Lambert or WR John Stallworth.
9. CB Noah Igbinoghene (Round 1, 2020)
Igbinoghene is now a part-time starter on a rising playoff team, the Washington Commanders, so you have to feel good about his rise as a late bloomer. But since this list is based on a player’s time in Miami, you have to ask if 29 tackles, one interception and five emergency starts over three seasons add up to the 30th overall pick in the draft. They don’t.
10. QB Pat White (Round 2, 2009)
This was just plain silly. The Dolphins spent the 44th overall pick on a gimmick, thinking that this running QB from West Virginia could be their magical wildcat quarterback. Listed as a combination QB/WR, White’s NFL career lasted 13 games with 81 rushing yards, plus zero yards passing and zero receiving. Some of his throws were known to doink off the goal posts. If you listened closely, you probably could have heard kicker Dan Carpenter: “It wasn’t me!”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
Click here to subscribe.
Should Miami Dolphins draft Purdue OL Marcus Mbow? Here’s how he’d fit
Miami Dolphins re-sign Liam Eichenberg, but why? What about investing in OL? | Habib
NFL pay scale exploding, but Miami Dolphins must learn to say no | Habib
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: We ranked Miami Dolphins’ 10 worst NFL draft picks of all time. Here’s who made the cut
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
