The Miami Dolphins are more than just “in the hunt” for the 2020 playoff picture. As things currently stand, the Dolphins sit just half a game out of the final Wild Card spot in the AFC; trailing the Cleveland Browns by a win. And while the next nine weeks will be committed to trying to assemble a postseason run — a very realistic objective given how well the Dolphins’ defense is playing — the Dolphins future is looking brighter than ever as Miami’s 2020 rookie class takes center stage on this year’s team.
With another loaded class awaiting in 2021, the Dolphins are well positioned to make a big leap between this year to next year and yet another leap from 2021 to 2022. But the drama surrounding the 2021 class isn’t tied to the Dolphins’ team successes; which makes the whole thing all that much more exciting.
Instead, Miami can simultaneously cheer for their own success and the failure of another team: the Houston Texans.
Houston was off this past week and now sits at 1-6 on the season. They’ve already fired their head coach, Bill O’Brien. And the team’s defense is woefully bad. Ahead of today’s trade deadline, we may even seen the team sell away some of their better assets in an effort to restock their own draft assets.
As things currently stand, Houston’s draft choice (which belongs to the Dolphins) sits 4th in the 2021 NFL Draft order as we near the midway point in the season. According to Tankathon.com, Miami’s early draft assets rank as follows:
- No. 4 overall (Houston Texans)
- No. 16 overall
- No. 35 overall (Houston Texans)
- No. 49 overall
If the Dolphins continue to win, their own picks will fall in the order. But given how problematic the Texans’ line and defense have been this season, we could realistically see the team retain their high ranking in both the 1st- and 2nd-rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft anyway.
All eyes are on the prize in South Florida, but remember to take a look at the Texans’ score each week. Miami feels primed for a best of both worlds scenario by the end of the season.
