Miami Dolphins in April 2018 brought hope for future

In our continued look at the Miami Dolphins 2018 season by month we revisit April when the Dolphins draft brought hopes for the team’s future.

Looking back on the year that was 2018 we revisit the month of April. Talk swirled that the Miami Dolphins were positioning themselves for a jump in the first round to finally find the quarterback they desperately needed.

Baker Mayfield was the hot topic in Miami and mock drafts slated Mayfield as a potential hit at the 11th position. As the draft got closer it started to become apparent that Adam Gase was on board with Mayfield and it increased the likelihood that the Dolphins would indeed grab the stellar rookie to be.

Then things began to change. Mayfield continued to rise on draft boards and by the time the draft arrived he was expected to go in the top five. Miami wasn’t making a move any longer and Mayfield was nothing more than a dream. He would of course be drafted first overall.

The Dolphins watched as four quarterbacks came off the board before they drafted with the Cardinals trading up in front of the Dolphins to get Josh Rosen the final of the top four. Miami would “settle” on Minkah Fitzpatrick which would turn out very well for the Dolphins.

Miami’s draft was one of their better drafts in recent years. Fitzpatrick had a very solid rookie season and played safety, corner, and slot. While he has some rookie struggles he did the tape work and continued to get better.

In the 2nd round Mike Gesicki was the tight-end that the Dolphins desperately needed but still do not know how to use. Gesicki’s rookie season was not what fans or the team expected but was it Gesicki or the coaching staff and Adam Gase’s play calling that led to below expected production?

Perhaps the Dolphins steal of the 2018 draft however came in the third round when Ohio State Buckeye Jerome Baker was drafted. Baker turned in a very good rookie season at linebacker. He made plays all across the field and while there were signs of needed improvement, Baker showed Dolphins fans that he could be around for a long time.

The rest of the Dolphins draft was solid and provided the team with some future prospects. TE Durham Smythe looked good at times in limited play and Kalen Ballage looked very good in spot work later in the season.

The draft last April provided the Dolphins with three starters out of the gate and gave hope that maybe the team was turning a corner from their draft woes of the past.