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 26th overall pick?
You may want to avert your eyes, Dolphins fans. The last time Miami drafted 26th overall was back in 2001 — when the team drafted CB Jamar Fletcher (Wisconsin) in the first round. The fact that Fletcher only played 3 seasons in Miami is bad enough, but then consider who the Dolphins didn’t draft in favor of Fletcher. The most notable? Quarterback Drew Brees, who went 31st overall to the Chargers.
As a matter of fact, here are the Pro Bowl players who were drafted within 10 picks of the Fletcher choice by the Dolphins:
- RB Michael Bennett, 27th overall (Vikings)
- WR Reggie Wayne, 30th overall (Colts)
- QB Drew Brees, 32nd overall (Chargers)
- DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, 34th overall (Cardinals)
- TE Alge Crumpler, 35th overall (Falcons)
- WR Chad Johnson, 36th overall (Bengals)
Ouch. Here’s hoping that this time around the Dolphins make the right choice with the 26th overall pick — although we’re fairly confident that the team will be passing on quarterback there as well; but only because they’ll have made their QB selection earlier in the round.