Miami Dolphins can’t afford to trade up during rebuilding of franchise

The Miami Dolphins are hotly debated topic when it comes to this years draft and trading up for a quarterback. They should trade down or stay put.

When it comes to rebuilding a franchise finding a franchise quarterback is the first priority. This year the Miami Dolphins are rebuilding but finding a franchise quarterback now, doesn’t make a lot of sense.

The model for rebuilding a football team does not have a handbook that can be flipped through like an Ikea bunkbead instruction book. There are no teams that you can model one after either. Some teams like the Rams and Eagles had success trading up for a quarterback but if you pay attention, other pieces were already in place before the big move on draft day.

For the Miami Dolphins the pieces are not in place to draft a quarterback. Doing so will cost capital because the only way Miami can get a Kyler Murray and maybe a Dwayne Haskins is to spend draft picks. There are too many holes in too many places to give up capital and the Dolphins do not have players to make that move.

When the Eagles moved up to get Carson Wentz their first move was to trade two players to swap first round picks with the Dolphins. That got them closer. Miami doesn’t have that luxury unless they start unloading guys like Kenyan Drake and Xavien Howard. Moving from 13 into the top three will likely cost them a first in 2020 and a 2nd or 3rd in 2019. Maybe more.

Moving down the draft makes more sense. This draft is rich with what the Dolphins need the most. Defensive front guys that can break pocket and get to the passer. Tackles that can stop the run. Offensive lineman that should be anchors for the next six to ten years. A quarterback is not going to find much success with a pieced together offensive line and some cast off defenders.

Chris Grier and Brian Flores say the share the same vision. They have said rebuilding inside and working their way out makes the most sense. Flores wants a physical defense that can show multiple looks and the offensive line is without a right tackle, a starting left guard, and they could use a better center.

Miami needs to learn from not only their own mistakes but mistakes made by other teams around the NFL. The Titans drafted Marcus Mariota high but stuck him with an offense that wasn’t very good and couldn’t protect him. The results have been Mariota taking a lot of hits and spending a lot of time injured.

In Cleveland the Browns spent years trying to find a quarterback but without a decent offensive line and that killed their careers. Houston once drafted David Carr who had all the talent in the world but three years of getting killed behind the line of scrimmage ended his career before he ever reached his potential.

Now in Cleveland they did something right for a change. Or so it may seem. They built a defense and an offensive line. Found a running game and lived through bad quarterback play until they were in position to draft the guy that could turn around their franchise. While it is too early to tell if this all pays off for them in the end, last year Baker Mayfield was able to stand upright with a better line in front of him.

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The Dolphins are in a similar situation. They have no offensive line and that is a big problem if you bring a rookie into the fold. Trading up costs draft picks that could be used to find solid starting offensive lineman in rounds two and three. Trading away those offensive lineman for a quarterback sets the team up for long-term failure.

No, the Dolphins need to trade back or stay put. At 13 the Dolphins can draft a franchise right tackle or even a guard. They can go defensive end or defensive tackle. They could even go linebacker. All pieces to a larger puzzle. The edge pieces are what the Dolphins lack so they shouldn’t worry about what the picture is going to look like now.

If the Dolphins keep their picks or accumulate more in 2020 they will be better equipped to draft a 2020 quarterback or be able to absorb the hit of moving some of those picks to move up. Kyler Murray is a name that many Dolphins fans are pounding for but they need to look at the bigger picture. Murray can’t and won’t succeed behind the Dolphins front. That hurts a quarterbacks development. Regardless of whether it is Ryan Fitzpatrick behind center.

If the Dolphins draft a quarterback in round one the pressure will be on them to start that quarterback. Again, behind what line?

Miami needs to play this out and not jump at the first quarterback that is on the board. Or the 2nd. They need to stick to a plan. Whatever that plan is will determine their future success both in the short-term, 3-4 years, or the long-term, beyond five.

2020 will have quarterbacks that are as good or better than those in this years class. In fact 2020 could have as many as three franchise NFL ready quarterbacks with only marginal question marks. That is not the case in 2019.

From a fans viewpoint the Dolphins need to find a quarterback but the plan to succeed comes with varying degrees of opinions on how to do that. Just like this one. The only certainty is that Miami needs more than one guy. They need a lot in this rebuild and free agency was not going to provide them with what they need. The draft will be where Miami needs to start.

Whether it is trading down to get more picks, or drafting a top lineman on either side of the ball, the Dolphins have to weigh what is more important, the quick fix or the long-term plan that they believe they have in place. If I am calling the shots, I’m passing on anyone that requires me to use my draft capital to acquire. Keep them, use them, build it the right way and when the 2020 draft rolls around I have what I need to get my quarterback. Either by record or because I have filled many of my holes and can let a pick or two go to move up.

It’s the simplest way and the way with the least amount of repercussion. It may not be a popular opinion but it is close to being the right decision. Or a needed one.