The Miami Dolphins are loaded with draft picks and are interested in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for the #1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Miami Herald initially reported the rumor yesterday, which has blown up in NFL circles overnight. The Dolphins currently hold the #5 draft spot plus two additional first-round picks.
Many draft prognosticators and scouts pegged LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow, as the projected #1 pick. With the Cincinnati Bengals in dire need of a quarterback, it seems obvious they’d pursue Burrow, who led LSU to a title in the National Championship game back in early January.
Despite this, the Bengals also have dire needs at other positions. Trading down may make sense, considering how many holes they have in their roster.
2020 NFL Draft Order – Top 5
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Washington Redskins
3. Detroit Lions
4. New York Giants
5. Miami Dolphins
The Bengals could swap picks with the Dolphins and still secure a top QB prospect like Tua Tagovailo (Alabama) with the fifth pick, while also filling in other positions with whatever other picks the Dolphins toss in to sweeten the trade deal.
While the sporting world has come to a standstill during the coronavirus pandemic, the future of the NFL Draft hangs in limbo. As of now, the draft will continue as planned, but in some sort of virtual format. In many ways, it could resemble your own fantasy football draft involving friends and family in other states. Except in this instance, it’s your favorite teams picking players from a league-wide Zoom meeting for the world to see on TV.
Fish Stocked Up
The Dolphins are also shopping for a quarterback. They were a long shot to acquire Tom Brady in free agency. Brady opted to continue his career in Florida, but he chose the Tampa Bay Bucs over the Dolphins.
With 14 picks awaiting them in the 2020 NFL Draft, Dolphins general manager, Chris Grier, has plenty of options to create a juicy trade package for the Bengals.
The Dolphins’ horde includes a six-pack of picks in the Top 70. The Dolphins are sitting on a trio of first-rounders this year, with the #5, #18, and #26 picks. In the second round, the Dolphins have two more decent picks with #39 and #56.
The Dolphins are also well-stocked for next season with four total picks in the top two rounds. They have a pair of first-rounders and a pair of second-rounders in the 2021 Draft at their disposal as well.
After a rough decade, the Dolphins’ future is looking brighter. That is to say, so long as they don’t botch the draft for the next two seasons.
Miami Blues
The Dolphins were so bad last season that they couldn’t even tank properly, which cost them a guaranteed top pick. At one point, there was talk in the locker room about an open mutiny. The discombobulated and bare-boned Dolphins finished 5-11 overall in 2019, good for last place in the AFC East.
The Dolphins have posted one winning season since 2008. They appeared in the playoffs only three times in the 21st century, but lost in the wild-card round all three times (2001, 2008, 2016).
The Dolphins reached the pinnacle of excellence in the early 1970s under Don Shula. They won back-to-back Super Bowls with victories in Super Bowl VII and VIII.
Miami Dolphins Record Since 2010
2019: 5-11
2018: 7-9
2017: 6-10
2016: 10-6 ** (Lost in wild card)
2015: 6-10
2014: 8-8
2013: 8-8
2012: 7-9
2011: 6-10
2010 7-9
** Qualified for postseason
The Dolphins saw a resurgence under Hall of Fame quarterback, Dan Marino. However, Marino could never get over the hump and ended his career as one of the greatest QBs to never win the big game.
The Dolphins traded running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Drake flourished in the second half of the season and jumped ahead of a nicked-up David Johnson on the depth chart as their RB1.