Draft and develop. It’s a big key to NFL success in the salary-cap era.
Teams can fill some key positions through trades and free agency, which the Dolphins are doing in their current win-now window. But ultimately, to keep labor costs within limits, you need low-cost talent, which means young players.
Roughly three weeks before the NFL draft (April 27-29), we’re reminded that three draft classes form the basis of the Dolphins’ rebuild — 2019, 2020 and 2021.
It usually takes three years to fairly evaluate a draft class, so we’ll look back at the 2019 and 2020 classes, grading both the draftee right now and the organization’s ability to develop that draftee.
We’ll grade those two classes even though the 2021 class — which includes wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips as first-round picks and safety Jevon Holland and guard Liam Eichenberg as second-round pick — is among the franchise’s best in recent memory. The thing is those guys have only played two seasons, one shy of the three-year evaluation period.
The Dolphins’ 2020 class is led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose potential is rivaled only by his injury history.
However, in 2020 the Dolphins could have selected quarterback Justin Herbert, the strapping 6-foot-5 gunslinger now with the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s a close call.
The 2019 class is led by defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, an outstanding talent who figures to get a contract extension soon.
But the Dolphins could have had running back Josh Jacobs, who just got the franchise tag with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Also recall the Dolphins traded with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire quarterback Josh Rosen on draft day of 2019, giving up a 2019 second-round pick (No. 62) and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
Still, between those two draft classes, the Dolphins have seven starters and a major contributor among 17 draft picks, and that’s pretty good when you consider eight of the picks were in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, areas you don’t expect major contributions.
The Dolphins have six starters among their nine picks in the first through fourth rounds in that two-year span.
The biggest disappointments to this point are guard Michael Deiter (third round, 2019), tackle Austin Jackson (first round, 2020), cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (first round, 2020) and guard Solomon Kindley (fourth round, 2020). That’s a lot of draft capital, but there’s still time for Jackson and Igbinoghene to show something with the Dolphins. Deiter signed with Houston in free agency.
First round, Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson
Draftee grade: A
Development grade: A
Who else was available: Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas
Comment: Excellent pick at No. 13. Jacobs, selected at No. 24, might have been better because of what he could do to help Tagovailoa and the offense. But Wilkins, who had a career-best 98 tackles last year, most in the NFL for a defensive lineman, has Pro Bowl potential and is a team leader.
Second round, Josh Rosen, QB Arizona Cardinals (trade)
Draftee grade: D
Development grade: D
Who else was available: N/A
Comment: Rosen, the No. 10 pick of the 2018 draft by Arizona, which drafted quarterback Kyler Murray No. 1 in 2019, was acquired at a great price — a 2019 second-round pick and a 2020 fifth-round pick. Unfortunately, he didn’t play well enough to live up to the bargain basement price tag. But maybe it was worth a try. Rosen is now on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.
Third round, Michael Deiter, G Wisconsin
Draftee grade: D
Development grade: D
Who else was available: Nate Davis, G, Tennessee (now with Chicago)
Comment: Deiter was regarded as a good pick at the time, but it didn’t turn out that way. Last season, when the Dolphins were searching hard for guard help, Deiter didn’t play a snap from scrimmage. It’s unclear if he didn’t develop or wasn’t properly developed.
Fifth round, Andrew Van Ginkel, LB Wisconsin
Draftee grade: C+
Development grade: B
Who else was available: Charles Omenihu, Houston (now with Kansas City)
Comment: Van Ginkel has been a solid rotational player who flashes big-play potential. His playing time was a bit unsettled last season. Still, in 56 career games, he has 181 tackles, 11.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and one interception.
Sixth round, Isaiah Prince, OT Ohio State
Draftee grade: C
Development grade: C
Who else was available: Dennis Daley, OT, Carolina (now with Arizona)
Comment: Prince started at right tackle for Cincinnati throughout its Super Bowl run two years ago as an injury replacement. He’s been largely a second-half-of-the-roster guy during his career. He was waived by the Dolphins in December of his rookie year. It’s tough to fault the Dolphins. Most likely Prince wasn’t ready for the workload.
Seventh round, Chandler Cox, RB Auburn
Draftee grade: N/A
Development grade: C+
Who else was available: Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins
Comment: Cox, who is no longer in the league, played in 21 games before being waived in December 2021. Gaskin was the last running back selected, and he was taken one pick after Cox.
Seventh round, Myles Gaskin, RB Washington
Draftee grade: C+
Development grade: B+
Who else was available: N/A
Comment: Gaskin, the Dolphins’ leading rusher in 2020 (584 yards), was re-signed during the offseason.
CLASS GRADE: C+
Wilkins was a high-quality selection, Van Ginkel was a solid pick, and Gaskin has done well considering he was a seventh-round pick. The Rosen trade didn’t work, but it was worth a shot. Prince is still in the league although not with the Dolphins. Overall, you got a key starter, Wilkins, who has Pro Bowl potential, a key reserve (Van Ginkel) and a contributor. That works. But it hurts not getting much from Deiter, especially when Davis was available. Still, pretty good draft overall.
First round, Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama
Draftee grade: A
Development grade: B-
Who else was available: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Comment: Quality pick. Tagovailoa had a rough first couple of years under coach Brian Flores, an experience that might have stunted his growth. Despite battling concussion issues, Tagovailoa thrived last season until December, when he struggled for a couple of road games and then sustained another concussion. And, yeah, Herbert remains the great “What if…”
First round, Austin Jackson, OT USC
Draftee grade: C-
Development grade: C-
Who else was available: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Minnesota
Comment: Injuries limited Jackson to two games at starting right tackle last season. Injuries weren’t a problem the previous two years. Jackson, for his career, has 30 starts in 32 games. The next offensive lineman taken after Jackson, who was selected No. 18, was Dolphins guard Robert Hunt (No. 39). The next lineman drafted after Hunt was Cleveland at No. 58, who was drafted as a tackle. So Jackson was the most reasonable selection.
First round, Noah Igbinoghene, CB Auburn
Draftee grade: D
Development grade: F
Who else was available: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago; Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas
Comment: Igbinoghene, selected No. 30, has been disappointing, but it’s tough to know whether it’s him or his development. You’d think a team could find a spot for a first-round pick, but Igbinoghene hasn’t been consistent when he’s played. Johnson and Diggs were selected back-to-back (Nos. 50 and 51 in the second round) and were the next CBs selected after Igbinoghene. Safeties Grant Delpit (Cleveland) and Antoine Winfield Jr. were selected Nos. 44 and 45.
Second round, Robert Hunt, G Louisiana
Draftee grade: A
Development grade: A
Who else was available: Damien Lewis, G, Seattle
Comment: Hunt, originally a tackle for the Dolphins, has been an outstanding selection and has Pro Bowl potential. Good selection, good development.
Second round, Raekwon Davis, DT Alabama
Draftee grade: C
Development grade: C
Who else was available: Justin Madbuike, DE, Baltimore; DaVon Hamilton, DT, Jacksonville
Comment: Davis has been a solid starter, but nothing spectacular. You’d like more from a second-round pick, especially when he’s 6-foot-7, 330 pounds, but he’s been solid.
Third round, Brandon Jones, S Texas
Draftee grade: B+
Development grade: A
Who else was available: Julian Blackmon, S, Indianapolis
Comment: Jones has been really good as the eighth man in the box either blitzing or providing run support. A knee injury cut his season short last year, but he’s expected to return to form this year.
Fourth round, Solomon Kindley, G Georgia
Draftee grade: C-
Development grade: C
Who else was available: Kevin Dotson, G, Pittsburgh
Comment: Kindley started 13 games as a rookie but was slow to develop afterward. He joined the New York Giants last season.
Fifth round, Jason Strowbridge, DE North Carolina
Draftee grade: N/A
Development grade: C
Who else was available: Broderick Washington, DT, Baltimore; Michael Danna, DE, Kansas City
Comment: Strowbridge, who attended Deerfield Beach high school, stayed with the Dolphins through the 2020 season, playing in eight games and totaling three tackles, but was cut from the practice squad in August 2021. Strowbridge is a free agent.
Fifth round, Curtis Weaver, DE Boise State
Draftee grade: C-
Development grade: C-
Who else was available: Larrell Murchison, DE, Los Angeles Rams
Comment: Weaver had a short stay with the Dolphins. Weaver sustained a foot injury during training camp, was put on waivers and claimed by Cleveland. He’s now with Minnesota. That said, the Dolphins didn’t have many defensive end options when they selected Strowbridge and Weaver.
Sixth round, Blake Ferguson, LS LSU
Draftee grade: B
Development grade: A
Who else was available: N/A
Comment: Ferguson, whose brother, Reid, serves the same role with Buffalo, remains the Dolphins’ starter.
Seventh round, Malcolm Perry, RB Navy
Draftee grade: N/A
Development grade: C
Who else was available: Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Denver
Comment: Perry, the second-to-last wide receiver selected, played in nine games in 2020. He spent time in 2021 on practice squads with New Orleans and New England. He retired in August.
CLASS GRADE: C+
Tagovailoa, Davis, Hunt and Jones carry this class. Yes, there’s a danger the Dolphins missed out on Herbert by selecting Tagovailoa, but so far it’s still a solid pick. Jackson is actually more of an incomplete, and Igbinoghene must improve.
These guys must live up to their potential, or even exceed their potential. So far they’ve been good. They’ve helped the Dolphins to three consecutive winning seasons and a wild-card berth. The question is whether these two classes can help fuel a Super Bowl run. They weren’t ready last year, but should be ready this year.
Draftee grade: Grade the player gets now.
Developmental grade: Grade Dolphins get for developing the draftee.
Who else was available: Player taken after the Dolphins’ pick, at the same general position and in the same general area (other than first-round picks), that would have been a good selection.
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