Could the Miami Dolphins choose to attack the 2020 NFL Draft the same way they did in 2008?
The Miami Dolphins are about to see their first round selection land at the highest draft slot the franchise has seen since securing the first overall selection in 2008. That is, of course, barring the regrettable trade-up for Dion Jordan back in 2013. In that 2008 draft, you may recall, Miami chose to address the trench play as priority number one — bypassing quarterback Matt Ryan in favor of Michigan left tackle Jake Long.
The Bill Parcells team building model focused on beefing up the trenches and often doubling down on positions of emphasis during the draft. It worked with his previous teams. That method did not, however, work whilst Parcells was on his South Florida retirement tour. Parcells didn’t have the conviction to take Matt Ryan first overall, instead thinking he could get equal returns on second round pick Chad Henne despite Henne’s inconsistent college play.
Jake Long, though a tremendous talent, could not fend off the injury bug and wound up having a shortened professional career. The choice to pass on Ryan proved to be another blunder in a long list of failed decisions regarding Miami Dolphin QB play post-Marino.
For better or worse, the Parcells influence is very much woven into the DNA of this remade Dolphins brain-trust.
General Manager Chris Grier has spent his entire professional career with two organizations: The New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Who was the head man in New England when Grier got his start in scouting? Bill Parcells. When Grier received a prominent promotion to Director of College Scouting with the Dolphins, who were his bosses? GM Jeff Ireland and football czar Bill Parcells.
Assistant general manager Marvin Allen got his start in the Patriots personnel department in 1993, the same year Parcells started his HC tenure in New England. The entire upbringing of head coach Brian Flores as an evaluator and coach was under Bill Belichick — the greatest coach in the Parcells coaching tree. That upbringing began as a scouting assistant back in 2004.
The “Big Tuna” only oversaw operations in Miami for a brief and lackadaisical three seasons. But his footprint with the team is as strong as ever.
All of this history is used to bring up one critical point: The Parcells system of thought coupled with Grier’s conservative nature to this point as a decision maker could prompt the Dolphins to pass on the likes of tremendously talented but seriously injured Tua Tagovailoa in favor of…an offensive lineman? Such a move would devastate Fins fans everywhere. However, building strong, nasty trench play has been a Parcells staple forever and should history repeat itself, there are options for a team needing five new starters along the offensive line in 2020.
Tank for Tristan (Wirfs)? Trash for (Andrew) Thomas? Wreck for (Jedrick) Wills? Crash for Creed (Humphries)? Bad for (Tyler) Biadasz? There are options for every flavor.
Unloading the roster at the magnitude the Dolphins have in 2019 just to draft an offensive lineman with a top five selection would be met with unanimous frustration. But unless Miami manages to secure the top selection in the draft in the final two weeks — a tall order that requires help of other teams — the only other quarterback worth of a top five selection is going to be a Cincinnati Bengal come April. That quarterback is Joe Burrow. The next biggest need is offensive line, followed by scheme specific defensive players.
Ohio State edge defender Chase Young is, of course, the belle of the ball in 2020 but recent speculation of a return to school paired with questions regarding scheme compatibility within Miami’s demanding system makes one wonder if they’d make that selection. That leaves offensive line as the next logical selection within the top five, assuming Miami stays there.
In this scenario, Miami would like to address quarterback at the back end of the first round, or perhaps trade back up with their ample draft capital. Perhaps Grier would be more comfortable drafting Tua later in the draft due to his unknown future after the hip injury. Names like Jordan Love, Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm or even Jalen Hurts would also be ones to watch in this scenario. Perhaps Miami chooses to punt on the quarterback in 2020 all together to instead ride with the ageless Ryan Fitzpatrick once more?
In 2008, this model backfired in spectacular fashion. Matt Ryan has gone on to have a nice career on a generally bad team, while Jake Long is out of the league and Chad Henne has been a backup post-Miami. Could history repeat itself in 2020, but with better success? Time will tell. These next few months will be fascinating to watch unfold. One thing is certain, however. Parcells still has a footprint in this league, and that footprint is as large as ever in Miami.
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