Miami Dolphins should be looking at the last 15 years of first round QB’s
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins should take the last 15 years of NFL drafted first round quarterbacks and use it as a lesson for 2019 and 2020.
For the Miami Dolphins, finding a quarterback is not just about finding a guy who can come in and start and last seven to 10 years. It is about finding a franchise player that you can build around for more than a decade. The Dolphins can’t simply draft a quarterback and call it a day.
Whether the Dolphins believe their franchise QB is in this years draft or next, they have to be careful not to fall in love with the statistics as much as the player. Finding the right QB is what will keep Chris Grier and Brian Flores in their jobs beyond the next five seasons.
If history has taught us anything, it is that teams will throw first round draft picks at anyone with QB listed as their position. Sometimes, the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine hype train is nothing more than a prelude to derailing.
In the last 15 years, dating back to 2003, there have been 40 quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft including Ryan Tannehill taken by the Dolphins in 2012. Of those 40 players, 32 are still in the league. That sounds impressive but is also misleading.
10 of those 32 are no longer starting and another five of those were drafted in 2018 alone. Breaking it down a bit further, only six of those players drafted before 2016 are bona-fide franchise players. Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Andrew Luck, Phillip Rivers, and Aaron Rodgers.
So what is the lesson that the Dolphins can look at when it comes to quarterbacks? Well for starters there is legit arguments on both sides of the fence. The Dolphins have drafted one quarterback in round one since Dan Marino in 1983 and that was Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill is no longer with the Dolphins.
Miami’s failure to draft a QB in round one has led to no success as a franchise. Had they actually tried what some other teams have, maybe they would have landed one. Like Aaron Rodgers.
While Miami has only drafted one QB in round one, the Bills have drafted three. J.P. Losman, E.J. Manuel, and Josh Allen last year. Several teams have drafted quarterbacks at least three times in the last 15 years but no one has outdone the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns finally hit on Baker Mayfield last year after three previous attempts that included, Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, and Brady Quinn.
Miami has to be one of those teams that only drafts one starting now. The lesson on the other side of that fence is that simply drafting a QB because he fits a certain stereotype or has the hot name and college statistics doesn’t mean that he will be the next great thing. More often than not, they aren’t.
More from Phin Phanatic
- Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
- 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
- Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
- 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
- Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
Drew Lock has a lot of potential for example but he can be erratic and his accuracy isn’t great. Kyler Murray is exciting but his diminutive stature and the way he plays the games brings concerns about his length of service in the league. Dwayne Haskins has a lot to offer but like Murray is a one year starter. He isn’t very athletic and some believe he has some mechanical issues in his release.
For the most part many are minor things but the Dolphins have to examine those minor details when they make a decision. Then weight that against the 2020 class and if they opt to wait, they need to nitpick again.
Drafting the wrong quarterback or a bad quarterback can hurt your franchise just as much as not drafting one at all. The Dolphins need to be careful and get this one right. Looking over the last 15 years, a lot of teams very much got it wrong.