Sacramento Kings
NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins Draft Recap
Trade for Hill Leaves Team With Only Four Picks
The biggest move made by the Miami Dolphins didn’t come during the three days of the NFL Draft. The Dolphins sent first-, second- and fourth-round picks in this year’s draft, as well as two selections in the 2023 draft, to the Kansas City Chiefs for game-breaking wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The Dolphins sent their own first-round pick to Philadelphia a year ago so they could move up and take receiver Jaylen Waddle. Their third-round selection this year also went to Philadelphia so Miami could move up eight spots to draft former Notre Dame offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, leaving the Dolphins with a limited number of draft picks.
Nobody can accuse the Dolphins of failing to surround quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the pieces he needs to succeed. Miami did have five first-round picks, three second-round selections and two third-rounders in the previous two drafts, so the depth should not take too much of a hit with only four selections this year. The Dolphins added three defensive linemen and three defensive backs among the undrafted rookie free agents signed by the team after the draft.
According to the NFL betting lines, Miami (+400) is tied with New England for the second-best odds to win the AFC East Division title. Miami (+1600) is tied for ninth in the AFC odds.
-
Pick 102 Channing Tindall | LB Georgia Bulldogs
Three trades made in a 12-month period resulted in the Dolphins trading away four draft picks before finally making their first selection.
Channing Tindall was overshadowed by many of his teammates on Georgia’s dynamic defense. He also slid down the board a little bit as a one-year producer for the Bulldogs. Tindall had 38 tackles with 8½ tackles for loss and 6½ sacks in his first three years. He nearly topped all three of those marks during the 2021 campaign with 67 tackles, 7½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks.
Tindall had eight tackles, 1½ tackles for loss and a sack in the national championship game so he definitely saved his best for last and proved he could perform on the biggest stage..
The 230-pound Tindall ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, had a 42-inch vertical jump and posted a mark of 10 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump, making him one of the top performers in his position group at the NFL Scouting Combine.
With five of his Georgia teammates being selected in the first round of the draft, it is only natural to wonder if he benefited from playing alongside elite talent or whether he could have had even bigger numbers on a different defense without so many fellow playmakers.
-
Pick 125 Erik Ezukanma | WR Texas Tech Red Raiders
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Erik Ezukanma began the 2021 season with 13 catches for 322 yards in the first two games of the season, including a 179-yard effort against nationally ranked Houston in the season opener. His numbers weren’t as impressive the rest of the way other than a 123-yard performance against No. 10-ranked Oklahoma.
Ezukanma averaged more than 15.5 yards on his 136 catches over the last three seasons while catching passes from five different quarterbacks.
👐🏈 @erikezukanma pic.twitter.com/urZd4u7igy
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 14, 2022
With only four picks, receiver didn’t seem like the biggest need for the Dolphins but Ezukanma should be able to contribute for what should be an improved Miami offense.
Those who bet online will likely steer clear of Ezukanma in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race considering how many players could be ahead of the former Texas Tech star.
-
Pick 224 Cameron Goode | LB California Golden Bears
With 36 tackles for loss and 21 sacks during his five seasons at California, the Dolphins took a chance on a player they hope can add a pass-rush threat.
Much like Tindall, other players made more tackles and big plays than Cameron Goode did during his collegiate career. However, Goode displayed the ability to rush the passer as well as being able to drop into coverage. Goode had three tackles for loss and two sacks in a win against Texas Christian early in the 2021 season.
Tape from that game likely played a role in Miami using the first of its two seventh-round selections on him.
-
Pick 247 Skylar Thompson | QB Kansas State Wildcats
It is not always a good sign when a quarterback had 26 of his 42 career touchdown passes in his first three seasons. Skylar Thompson had just 16 TD passes in the last two seasons. He shared time at quarterback in three of his five seasons at Kansas State.
Thompson ran quite a bit earlier in his career as he had 11 scoring runs during the 2019 season. He is unlikely to be a threat to start, but perhaps he can offer some depth at the quarterback position.
Grading the Draft
If Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle become a dynamic 1-2 receiving duo for the Dolphins and Liam Eichenberg becomes a solid offensive linemen, the Dolphins may not regret all the draft picks they traded away in a span of 12 months.
Taking a receiver with their second pick seems like a curious move even if Ezukanma was worthy of being selected in that spot.
According to many who make NFL picks, the Dolphins were expected to be a playoff team a season ago and perhaps the moves they made will have them back in the postseason. Let’s check the Super Bowl odds.
GRADE: B
