The immediate future of football on all fronts could best be described as “to be determined”. The NFL appears aligned to have a season this fall and is laying the groundwork for what a return to action looks like with the NFL’s Players Association. There will be compromising and concessions to be made, but nevertheless there seems to be an agreement to be made between the two fronts.
As for college football, seeing a return to the field is much messier — considering the players do not have a union and they’re not paid professionals, how can the NCAA or individual conferences regulate a return to action? There’s no easy answer there and everything is on the table.
Including possibly playing football in the spring instead of in the fall.
And if it comes to that, how NFL teams choose to attack evaluating players for the NFL Draft will be fascinating to watch. Will players play the start of the season and withdraw to prep for the Draft? Will players skip out on the season all together and bank on their previously existing game tape? Is there another avenue that’s not been previously thought of? Evaluating players will become the “wild, wild west” where everyone is going to have a different approach — and those teams with the best scouts will stand apart when it comes time to actually make decisions.
Which is why Dolphins fans should not lose sleep at night over the potential of drafting in 2021. The Dolphins’ front office boasts plenty of experience and plenty of valued minds across the league.
General manager Chris Grier is front row and center — although his two drafts as the unquestioned leader in Miami still need time to develop before we can make any firm decisions. But Miami’s front office leadership extends well beyond just Grier.
The Dolphins also have Reggie McKenzie on staff, the architect of the Raiders’ turnaround in the 2010s — who serves as a Senior Personnel Executive. Miami’s assistant general manager is Marvin Allen, who spent 16 years within the Patriots organization as a scout from 1993-2008 and also got a taste of building a winner in Kansas City as the Chiefs’ director of college scouting for four seasons.
Should the Dolphins have to place the trust in these men to get the choices right with some of their critical selections, they’ve got a great group to do the job right. Remember, Miami owns two picks in each of the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. But assuming they don’t have the answers they need, the alternative option for Miami isn’t all that bad, either. Trade back in the draft, add picks for a more traditional cycle in 2022 and reload for next season all over again.