The Miami Dolphins are reportedly not just looking to make a big splash in free agency — we now formally have reason to believe that the Dolphins are going to try to make a big splash in the 2020 NFL Draft as well. The biggest of splashes, for that matter. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is doubling down on a prior report that the Miami Dolphins will look to package their draft picks together and trade up to the 1st-overall selection. The object of their obsession?
Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow.
Whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals have any intention of hearing out Miami’s offers is another story. But at the very least, we now have a tangible report that the Dolphins will indeed try. From general manager Chris Grier’s point of view, this is why the team made the moves that they did this past year. So that the team could “do whatever (we) want” as it comes to both free agency and the NFL Draft. And so far, the team has successfully flexed that muscle in inking notable names like Byron Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and others to come to play in South Florida.
But this would be a whole different kind of flex. The Dolphins aren’t talking about trading up to 3 with Detroit or 2 with Washington anymore — they’re talking about moving up to get the big fish. Is there anything more “Miami” than that?
This team’s moves in free agency have, at the very least, bought Miami enough flexibility to take such a move in stride if they can convince the Bengals to climb down off the pedestal. Burrow comes without the red flags that plague Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and one has to wonder how much the country’s COVID-19 crisis and lockdown are motivating Miami to decide they’ll “go big or go home” if they’re going to cough up draft picks to move up and get a quarterback.
With no medicals or player visits to suss through, Miami must fall back on what is known — Burrow doesn’t have a dislocated hip issue and he’s apparently the top quarterback on the team’s board. So sure, try to go get him. But the Dolphins must proceed carefully and ensure they don’t marry themselves so an outcome that sees them paying obscenely to jump just a few spots in the order.
Stay tuned. The 2020 NFL Draft is 3 weeks away. If the Dolphins are going to pull this off, they’re running out of time.