What would it take for the Dolphins to make a trade in the 2024 NFL Draft?
The Dolphins had just finished Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, making a pair of picks after sitting idly on Day 1 without a first-round selection.
Miami forfeited its first-round pick last year as part of punishment for tampering and held a league-low four picks because of multiple trades.
General manager Chris Grier sat beside coach Mike McDaniel in the team’s news conference room when asked about his desire to keep the Dolphins’ 2024 draft capital.
Yeah, I think so. Mike hasn’t had a first-round pick selection yet,” Grier said.
“But I’ll be ready Year 3,” McDaniel said with a grin.
That time could be coming soon. As mentioned, the Dolphins’ tampering violations prevented them from having a first-round pick last year. Miami packaged its 2022 first-round pick in the trade that got wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The Dolphins have the No. 21 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25. While Grier spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine about the need for an influx of young talent, he also didn’t rule out trading the first-round pick.
“I think you have to be open to everything,” he said. “If it’s a possibility of moving up or moving down for something and get in a better position to get a player that we may say is a home run for us, we’re definitely open to moving up. If someone wants to drop to our spot and we move down and pick up extra picks, we’re very open to that too as well.”
Using the Jimmy Johnson Draft Trade Chart, the revolutionary model that uses a point-based system to attach value to picks, here is a trio of hypothetical deals the Dolphins could make.
Trade up
▪ Trade idea: Dolphins trade the No. 21 overall pick and a 2025 second-rounder to the Broncos for the No. 12 overall pick.
▪ Rationale: The Broncos are a quarterback-needy team that isn’t in a position to get one of the top three quarterbacks. They also need as many picks as they can get facing a historic dead cap hit after trading Russell Wilson. The question for the Dolphins is which player is worth moving into the top half of the first round?
Miami has needs along the offensive and defensive line but how about Georgia tight end Brock Bowers? He’s the consensus top tight end prospect in a draft that isn’t as deep as last year and could change the dynamic of the Dolphins’ offense. If he doesn’t go to the Jets at No. 10, where he has been a popular mock draft pick, he could start to slide. Miami is slated to get a pair of third-round compensatory picks next year, which would offset the loss of next year’s third-rounder.
Trade down
▪ Trade idea: The Dolphins trade the No. 21 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Nos. 44, 77, 112 and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
▪ Rationale: This would be a steep price to pay for the Raiders. But it’s the type of move Las Vegas could make as it also won’t be able to get the top-three quarterbacks at No. 13. The back of the first round could be the sweet spot to land a second-tier quarterback such as Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
It would also be a drastic drop-down for Miami, which would be taken out of position to potentially select a top prospect. Miami, though, doesn’t have any picks in the third and fourth rounds and this deal would give the team a full arsenal of selections, along with an extra pick next year. From here, the Dolphins could package some picks to move up in the second round and target a player they covet.
Trade for a veteran
▪ Trade idea: The Dolphins trade 2025 third- and fourth-round picks for Washington Commanders defensive lineman Jonathan Allen.
▪ Rationale: Grier acknowledged the Dolphins need young contributors. But Miami is still in win-now mode and has a glaring hole on the defensive line after Christian Wilkins signed with the Raiders. The Dolphins signed several defensive linemen in free agency but none project as a volume starter at Wilkins’ position.
There have been rumors that Allen could be a trade candidate. New Washington general manager Adam Peters said the Commanders are “not interested in trading” Allen, but that always comes with a caveat if a team has the right offer. Miami doesn’t have much mid-round draft capital this year so the team would likely have to dip into next year’s stash to make a deal work.
Allen has a $21.4 million cap hit and no more guaranteed money on the final two years of his deal, so some restructuring would be required to fit him on the cap and make him financially content. Grier has been willing to restructure deals and add void years for top talent. Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2022, would help round out the Dolphins’ defense.
This story was originally published April 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
