Dolphins let NFL know they are a willing trade partner
The Miami Dolphins have called multiple teams ahead of the NFL Draft letting them know South Florida’s NFL franchise has a willingness to trade down, depending on how the board falls.
This is a norm for the franchise, especially during general manager Chris Grier’s tenure as the team’s top decision-maker.
Heading into last year’s draft Grier had made more trades since 2019 than any other executive. However, he has repeatedly stated that he needs a willing trade partner.
“Definitely open to moving around in the draft, but also if the opportunity arises to get a really good player, I would be open to figuring out a way to go get them, too,” Grier said last week in his predraft meeting. “We do have needs, but I think you guys would even say that there’s more good street free agents on the street now than there have been in a long time.
“It seems like a lot of veterans are waiting until after the draft to see where they’re going to sign. So again, there are opportunities to just keep building the roster that way.”
Last year Miami wanted to trade down from pick No. 21, a selection they used to draft pass rusher Chop Robinson, but didn’t find a willing partner. However, the Dolphins did make one draft-day trade, acquiring a fourth-round pick from Philadelphia, which they used to select tailback Jaylen Wright, who sparingly contributed as a rookie.
That trade cost Miami its 2025 third-round pick, but the Dolphins still have 10 selections available to use for the next three days.
Miami owns pick No. 48 in the second round, and No. 98 in the third round. The Dolphins also have two selections in the fourth (No. 116 and 135), two in the fifth round (No. 150 and 155), and three in the seventh (224, 231, 253).
The Dolphins are attempting to acquire more second-day selections because that’s supposedly where the meat and potatoes of the 2025 NFL Draft can be found since prospects 20-70 have virtually the same grade according to many draft experts.
And it doesn’t help that the positions Miami has left massive voids for — offensive linemen, defensive lineman, and cornerbacks — will likely feature a run during the second day of the draft.
The Dolphins must rebuild the entire secondary this offseason because of the impending trade that will ship Jalen Ramsey elsewhere during, or after the draft.
If Miami trades the seven-time Pro Bowler during the draft they will lose $8.5 million in cap space. If Miami trades Ramsey after June 1 Miami will save $9.9 million, so don’t expect a player for pick trade unless Miami can find a trade partner willing to make a deal now that involves multiple players, and will be capped by Ramsey being moved for a lower pick in 2026.
Miami presently has $16.5 million in cap space, and it will cost the Dolphins roughly $5 million in cap space to sign the draft class. Moving Ramsey now — this week — would limit the Dolphins’ ability to sign quality veteran free agents, which Grier said remains on the team’s agenda after the draft.
Along with rebuilding the entire secondary, Miami also must supplement the offensive line because that unit lost four key players — Terron Armstead, Kendall Lamm, Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn — this offseason, and presently has Liam Eichenberg, who has struggled in his 52 NFL starts, and Patrick Paul, a 2025 second-round pick, projected as starters, and there’s very little depth in the unit.
The Dolphins also have two proven NFL players — Zach Sieler and Benito Jones — on the defensive line and need to add at least four more 300-pound run stuffers before training camp.
This year it might be easier to move down in the draft if someone talented the Dolphins they don’t want — say Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders or Penn State tight end Tyler Warren — begins to slide and that can create a market for them.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah projected that Miami would trade pick No. 13 and a fourth-round selection to Denver for pick. 20 and the Broncos’ 2026 second round selection so Denver could select a tight end.
In an ideal scenario the Dolphins would move down to pick No. 22 and acquire the Los Angeles Chargers’ second-round pick (No. 55) and sixth-rounder (No. 202) for the sacrifice of moving down nine spots.
But again, it takes two to tango, and for the Dolphins to exit this draft victorious they need to find two future starters at all three positions of need.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM.
