Best players of each Miami Dolphins draft class

The Miami Dolphins have had 51 drafts in their history. Out of those drafts have come Hall of Fame players, contributors, and some busts.  Some made the roster and some didn’t.

Over those years players like Dan Marino and Jason Taylor were the obvious stars of their draft class but what about some of the other players who were drafted by Miami but never got to the Hall of Fame?

While some draft classes were horrible and some were average, more often than not at least one player stood out. So let’s have an off-season look at who is the best player from each of the Dolphins draft classes.

2017

The Dolphins draft class of 2017 obviously can’t be included in this list. The players have yet to take the field and while Charles Harris is saying all the right things he has yet to line up against an NFL tackle. That same thing can be applied to the rest of the draft class as well.

The more important thought should be that someone steps up and becomes the best player of this class.

1966

Decades have gone by since the Dolphins selected first overall in 1966. An expansion franchise that was the brain child of founders Danny Thomas and Joe Robbie. The Dolphins spent their first round pick on Jim Grabowski a running back. Grabowski was also drafted by the Packers that year as the AFL/NFL merger had not yet happened. He chose Green Bay and never played for the Dolphins.

The two names that stand out the most from this inaugural class is WR Howard Twilley taken in round 12 and Frank Emanuel a LB taken in round 2. Emmanuel lasted four years while Twilley lasted until 1976 and became a big part of the Dolphins three consecutive Super Bowls.

Who’s the best?

Howard Twilley