Dolphins must improve their drafting of second round picks

The Miami Dolphins have had their share of bad draft picks and the 2nd round seems to be an Achille’s heel. The Dolphins have struggled to find long-term solutions in round two of the NFL Draft.

Much like the third round, the Dolphins success in round two of the NFL Draft is a mixed bag of disappointment and let down. The Dolphins must find a way to improve on this problem area. When not drafting they have traded away 2nd round draft picks for failed quarterbacks and drafted a few failed quarterbacks as well.

Since 2000, the Dolphins have drafted twice in round two-three times and have not had a draft pick in round two, three times. Miami traded their 2nd round draft picks in 2002, 2004, and 2006. The 2002 2nd round pick was traded to Philadelphia for a 2001 3rd round pick and a 6th round pick. The 3rd round pick was used on Morlon Greenwood.

The 2nd round draft picks traded in 2004 and 2006 were used on quarterbacks A.J. Feeley in 2004 and Daunte Culpepper in 2006. It is safe to say the Dolphins blew those trades.

Over the years Miami has hit on some of their 2nd round selections but when they miss, they miss wildly.

Todd Wade was drafted in 2000 and spent four seasons of his eight year NFL career in Miami. He started every game for the Dolphins at tackle during his time with the Dolphins. 63 games to be exact.

In 2001 the Dolphins hit a home run with wide-receiver Chris Chambers. Chambers had a very good career with the Dolphins but was traded at the trade deadline in 2007 to San Diego. Chambers became a go-to receiver for the Dolphins.

2003 was perhaps one of the biggest blunders of Dave Wannstedts time with the Dolphins. Failing to draft Drew Brees over Jamar Fletcher, Wannstedt opted for linebacker Eddie Moore over receiver Anquan Boldin. The decision was horrible as Moore would only last two seasons in the NFL. His two years with Miami would produce three starts and 27 tackles.

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Matt Roth would have a decent career with the Dolphins at linebacker after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft. He would start 23 games of the 96 he appeared in but never was able to take the next step at the NFL level. He was inconsistent but managed to post 121 tackles and 12 sacks. He was traded to Cleveland in 2009 and would finish his career in the NFL two seasons later.

Miami would have two draft picks in round two in the 2007 draft. Miami wasted them both as a matter of practicality. Samson Satele would spend two years in Miami before being traded only to return in 2014 to replace an injured Mike Pouncey. It would be his last NFL season. The other second round pick would have a shorter NFL stay.

The Dolphins under Cam Cameron opted to pass on future bust Brady Quinn in favor of Ted Ginn, Jr. but he would take BYU QB John Beck in round two. Beck’s career in Miami lasted one season where he played in five games starting four of them. Beck threw one touchdown. His stay in the NFL lasted one more season as he played for the Redskins before his NFL career came to a quick close.

Miami would double down on 2nd round picks again in 2008 selecting yet another quarterback and a defensive lineman. Chad Henne spent most of his time in Miami being ridiculed by the fan base but ten years later he is still in the NFL serving as a back-up. In Miami his four years were nothing special and he failed to start an entire season.

Phillip Merling was the other 2nd round choice of the Dolphins in this draft and he spent four seasons with Miami. The Dolphins opted to not re-sign him when his contract was up because he still had not turned a corner in his development. He would play two more seasons in the NFL before his career was over.