The Miami Dolphins’ draft capital entering the 2020 NFL Draft is about as expansive as any team in recent memory. With 14 picks currently on the Dolphins’ schedule in next week’s draft, the Miami Dolphins are set to draft as many players as the team has hauled over the last two years worth of drafts (2018 & 2019) combined.
It’s fun to imagine. The Dolphins have added Christian Wilkins, Mike Gesicki, Jerome Baker, Jason Sanders and former Dolphin Minkah Fitzpatrick over that time span — if the team adds an equal level of talent to the team with their heavy dosage of picks, it shouldn’t be hard to envision this Dolphins team gearing up for late season challenges to make the postseason sooner rather than later.
But what does team history tell us about some of these top selections? The Dolphins pick four times in the top-40 (barring a trade, of course). How much success have the Dolphins had in drafting talents in each of those respective spots in the past? It’s time for a history lesson!
The last time the Miami Dolphins held the 18th overall pick?
Like the 5th overall pick, the team has never actually drafted a player with the 18th overall selection of an NFL Draft. Miami did draft a player with the 18th overall pick in the 1966 AFL Draft, the team’s first as an expansion franchise. That pick, which came in the 3rd round, was OG Larry Gagner (Florida) — he retired in 1972.
Miami has three times drafted one spot away from the 18th overall pick, once drafting 17th (1976) and twice drafting 19th (2004 & 2014).
- In 1976, the Dolphins drafted LB Larry Gordon (Arizona State) — who would go on to play 100 games for the Dolphins (98 starts) before his final season in 1982
- In 2004, the Dolphins drafted OT Vernon Carey (Miami) — who would go on to be a staple of the team’s offensive line, logging 107 starts in 121 career games. He never made a Pro Bowl, but he was considered a plus starter for much of his career.
- In 2014, the Dolphins drafted another offensive tackle, Ja’Wuan James (Tennessee). James struggled with durability but was a plus presence in the run game for his tenure with the Dolphins before leaving in free agency to play for the Denver Broncos.