Miami Vice

How the Dolphins owned the NFL draft, before the draft.

Friday morning the Dolphins shocked the NFL world with two massive trades in this year’s upcoming draft. It is rare to see such a trade pulled off prior to the actual day of the draft. Teams usually do this to maximize the return of the pick they are trading. Miami obviously saw value in what the 49ers were offering and pounced at the opportunity. Here are the nuts and bolts of the trade.

For Miami they turn this year’s #3 overall pick into 3 firsts and 1 third rounder. They drop down to pick #12 this year and are in position to add the best player available on the board. They make this move most likely to give themselves another year to assess if last year’s first round pick Tua Tagovailoa will be their signal caller for the next decade. Miami wasn’t done making moves for the morning as they decided to jump back into the top 10 in a trade with the Eagles.

Miami traded back to pick #6 with the Eagles to remain in position to take a player they were most likely targeting at #3. In doing so they send out a 2022 first round pick and swap later round picks this year with the Eagles. They will still be in prime position next year to move on from Tua should he regress or show to not be capable of being the teams long-term signal caller. All told, this is quite the haul for Miami. They turn former first round pick Laremy Tunsil into 4 firsts, 1 second, and 1 third round pick. 

After today’s moves, the Dolphins will continue to have a presence in this year’s draft as well as future drafts. Here is a look at what the future holds for them in the drafts.

For the Eagles, they reportedly were attempting to move up for Zach Wilson if he were available at #3. They now drop back in the draft to the middle of the round and will go into the year with Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback. Much like the Dolphins this year, I anticipate the Eagles to use the year to assess Hurts and determine if he is the long-term fit for the team. 

For the 49ers, this move signifies they will be taking a quarterback at #3. Teams rarely surrender this type of draft capital for other positions. The 2011 trade between the Falcons and Browns for the rights to draft Julio Jones being the most recent memorable non-quarterback move up. The 49ers will draft one of either Zach Wilson or Justin Fields. They must grade out relatively similar on both to make this move so far in advance of the draft. Regardless, Coach Shannahan will get his signal caller for the future.