The 2010 trade back
Don’t remember this one? We didn’t expect you would. The Dolphins were scheduled to pick No. 12 in 2010 but instead opted to trade into the late 20s after striking a deal with the (then) San Diego Chargers. The Chargers sent their 1st-round pick, 2nd-round pick and 4th-round pick to the Dolphins for the No. 12 pick, which they then used to draft RB Ryan Mathews.
That isn’t the loss for the Dolphins. Instead, Miami’s loss in this deal comes with who was still on the board for the team at the time of the trade: namely free safety prospect Earl Thomas. Thomas would go 2 picks later after the Seahawks traded up with the Denver Broncos. Miami would start Chris Clemons at free safety that year and the Dolphins would invest their picks in the trade back with the Chargers on DL Jared Odrick and LB Koa Misi.
We’ll try not to mention that TE Rob Gronkowski went two picks after the Dolphins drafted Misi at No. 40 overall in the same draft as the team forged ahead with Anthony Fasano as their lead tight end.