I will start off by saying that I am not an expert and do not have all the resources that our Dolphins have, nor am I surrounded with the experience that GM Chris Grier has surrounded himself with. So all I can do is give my opinion about the first day of the draft and Miami’s 3 picks and what I will deem as a pointless grade on the moves made on day 1.
What I liked
The best move the Dolphins made was when they traded the 26th pick to move back to 30th and get an extra 4th round pick as Miami needs more picks in the middle of the draft and I would have no issues if they once again trade down and get a few more middle round picks because that is where the true quality of the draft can be.
I was not on board with Drafting Tua and that has not changed for me. With that being said I want this to work out for Miami but I don’t have a good feeling about this. It took courage and maybe a little cowardice to draft Tua. The courage was drafting him at all because if he suffers another hip dislocation and have reoccurring issues with his hip the Dolphins have paid a hefty price to what I consider damaged goods because just by being a QB and being drafted in the first round he will get paid good money.
The cowardice is if they drafted him because of the pressure put on them by the media and fans, as it would have been some backlash had they passed up on Tua at #5 but if they feared the backlash and caved in than they are cowards and deserve to be criticized down the road. As I always conclude “Time Will Tell”. I truly am hoping for the best even though I do not like the pick.
Better options than Tua Tagovailoa at #5 based on team needs: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn, Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson, Jedrick WIlls Jr., OT, Alabama, Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville, Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa, Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina,
The next two picks I do not like at all!
Pick # 18 OT Austin Jackson was a reach, I had him as a late 1st to 2nd round pick. Better options at #18 based on team needs: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan, K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU , Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma, or Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia all of whom came off the board after pick 18.
Pick Number 26 was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for moving down 4 spots and acquiring an extra 4th round pick, that was the best move they made in day one IMHO.
Noah Igbinoghene Pick number 30 was a total reach, there were players of need that they should have taken at 30 because I feel CB (A position of least need) and in particular the one they selected, who was ranked as my 7th CB out of my top 10 would have been there in the late second round and I don’t see the need for another CB especially in the first round as a late round PROJECT is where they should have been looking to fill that role.
I think a Safety, RB, OT/G, DT or even a DE would have been a better value at 30 or trade back again and get another 2nd round pick and another mid round selection if they could.
My Grades
- Tua Tagovaila, QB, Alabama (Injury Concerns) C+
- Austin Jackson, OT, USC Reach would have been there in the second round IMO and there were better options for Miami’s O-line here. C-
- Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn major reach for a position they don’t have great needs for now. There were players who could have filled a greater needs D+
Final Grade for Day 1 C
As I said in the beginning, I will support and root for every player they took and hope for the best, I am somewhat disappointed in what I feel is a huge letdown with the picks but I will yield to the experts and stay in my lane and cheer on the Dolphins!
TDS
Fins Up!
The Dolphin Seer 