Quick, who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL at the moment? You might get a different answer for the #1 spot depending on who you ask, but generally speaking the best of the best would likely feature a consensus group of:
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore
Russell Wilson, Seattle
Deshaun Watson, Houston
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
And from there, the debate can rage on the merits of Dallas’ Dak Prescott, the remaining longevity of New England’s Tom Brady and New Orleans’ Drew Brees and so on.
One thing that each and every name on that list has in common? They weren’t drafted with the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Shoot, Patrick Mahomes is the only one of them to be drafted in the top-10 overall selections of his respective NFL Draft. And he was drafted 10th after a trade up via the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
Mahomes: 10th overall (2017)
Jackson: 32nd overall (2018)
Wilson: 75th overall (2012)
Watson: 12th overall (2017)
Rodgers: 24th overall (2005)
Prescott: 135th overall (2015)
Brady: 199th overall (2000)
Brees: 32nd overall (2001)
The point is simple: stop fretting over whether or not the Dolphins are going to pick 1st, 3rd, 5th or 11th. The Dolphins of years past have, ironically, had the opportunities to target many these quarterbacks and instead elected to remain committed to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. That was their mistake. The first five picks of every NFL Draft are not quarterbacks. Period. And so Miami will have every opportunity to target their quarterback of choice, provided that player isn’t LSU’s Joe Burrow, who is looking to be a shoo-in for the top choice with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dolphins fans have spent the entire season being told by many pundits that a season that fails to acquire the top pick is a failed season, because that is the only way to guarantee a franchise savior. That’s nonsense. And as the landscape of top passers across the league will show you, it’s a fairy tale.
Successful quarterbacks are bred by strong coaching, a complimentary supporting cast, physical talent and a sharp football mind. Successful quarterbacks aren’t always afforded each of those variables at the college level either, which can allow them to be more readily available in the NFL Draft.
This fact makes what we’re seeing in Miami unfold via Brian Flores and his assistant coaches all the more important, because it sets the table for Miami to prioritize the skills they want in a quarterback and then act in targeting the best man for the job. Those often turn into the best quarterbacks — and they often down come with the cost of a #1 pick, either.
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