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The intrigue of the Miami Dolphins’ rebuilding project doesn’t end just because the team has made their slew of draft selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. Yes, Miami added a bunch of talent and was able to double down on that influx with a good deal of spending in free agency as well. But this rebuild is only just now getting started — because the Dolphins are scheduled to make two selections in three of the first four rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft as well.
The Dolphins own the Houston Texans’ 1st- and 2nd-round picks courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil deal from last August — and the team will also hold two 4th-round selections courtesy of the recent swap with the Las Vegas Raiders. There’s a lot to look forward to next spring with the upcoming NFL Draft and there’s also sure to be plenty of drama as the upcoming NFL Draft order plays out. Where will the Dolphins pick?
According to the most recent Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings, the Miami Dolphins won’t have to wait long to make their picks. The DVOA forecasts for the Dolphins to be the third worst team in football, resulting in the team forecasting to pick 3rd overall. That’s quite the pessimistic outcome for the Dolphins, but it is also half the story — as Miami has a very serious interest in rooting against the Houston Texans. Houston, according to Football Outsiders, forecasts as the 23rd best team in football; meaning the Dolphins would own two top-10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Not only that, the team would own four picks in the first 42 selections.
So while Football Outsiders’ forecast of the Dolphins’ 2020 outlook isn’t great, there’s at least a silver lining to how Miami’s season is modeled. And, at the end of the day, they play the games on the field for a reason — the Dolphins will have every opportunity to once again outplay their expectations. Should it happen two seasons in a row, it might be time for everyone to readjust their scope of how Miami’s coaching and intangibles can impact their ability on the field.