Miami Dolphins worst first round draft picks since 2000

The list of Miami Dolphins failures in the NFL Draft is well documented and is one of the reasons they are in the rebuilding mode they are in now.

Over the course of 19 years, the Miami Dolphins have gone from being an AFC East power to a doormat made better by the lack of production from the Bills and Jets. It starts with the draft. The one place that teams can get younger and better quicker and the Dolphins have failed.

The last two seasons have brought what should be stellar first round draft picks but they represent a minority in the Dolphins recent draft history. Here is a look at the players drafted in round one that simply busted.

2001 – Jamar Fletcher

The thought of Jamar Fletcher still echoes the hate and vitriol of the Dave Wannstedt era. Things could have and should have been different. Fletcher’s time with the Dolphins was not good but making it worse was the fact that Drew Brees developed into a Hall of Fame quarterback who broke records. The only thing that saves Fletcher from the connection was Nick Saban’s desire to take Daunte Culpepper over Brees five years later.

Fletcher lasted three unremarkable seasons with the Dolphins before the team moved on. After leaving he bounced from San Diego to Detroit, to Houston, and finally the Bengals in 2008, his last year in the league. Combined, the former first-round pick started only 12 games with seven interceptions, two of them coming in 2002 with the Dolphins.

2006 – Jason Allen

Allen was a big mistake by Nick Saban who leaned on his college coaching experience to draft a guy that Miami didn’t really need at the time. He spent four full seasons with the Dolphins and half of another before he was moved to Houston. He lasted one and one-half seasons with the Texans and wrapped his career in Cincinnati in 2012.

Allen started 19 of 71 games with the Dolphins with eight interceptions never living to the lofty expectations that were placed on him.

2013 – Dion Jordan

Jordan was to be the big move that made Jeff Ireland’s Dolphins career. An edge rushing monster that would save the defense and likely Ireland’s job. That didn’t happen. Joe Philbin didn’t play Jordan from the start and when he did play the results were not good.

Jordan would play 2013 and 2014 with the Dolphins starting one game in 26 opportunities. He posted three sacks in that time. After missing the 2015 season due to a year-long NFL suspension, Jordan was released and signed with the Seahawks where his career continued for two more years. He is currently a free agent but it does not appear he has many suitors.

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Non-busts

While the three mentioned above were genuine busts, there were several players that simply didn’t live up the hype or expectations and while you can’t really call them a bust, the team simply could have done a lot better.

2007 – Ted Ginn, Jr.

Ginn never had a shot with the Dolphins. The love affair that draft for Brady Quinn led to shock and dismay when Randy Mueller and Cam Cameron made the pick for Ginn. The meet with the fans in the teams practice bubble after the selection was the last time the Dolphins opened up the coaches to fans after a pick.

Met with a chorus of boos from the crowd, Cameron made the statement regarding Ginn and the entire Ginn family which only made the situation worse. Ginn was not good in Miami often seen as a scared receiver who was more interested in finding the sideline than getting into the endzone but he did make plays at times on offense and made an impact on special teams.

Ginn’s three seasons in Miami came to an end in 2010 when he was moved to the 49’ers. He finished 1,664 yards on 128 receptions and only five touchdowns. Here is the caveat though. Ginn played three seasons in San Francisco and then bounced to Carolina, and Arizona, then back to Carolina again for two more seasons before landing with the Saints for the last two years.

The fact that Ginn is still in the NFL and far more productive than he was in Miami could be a sign that the Dolphins gave up on him too soon. He has 31 touchdowns in his career receiving and started for two Super Bowl teams.

2008 – Jake Long

Another opportunity to address the quarterback situation with Matt Ryan, the Dolphins announced a week before the draft that they would spend the number one overall pick on LT Jake Long. Long played well in Miami until injuries began to take hold of his career.

Miami opted to not retain him after his rookie deal and he joined Jeff Fisher in St. Louis for two seasons before finishing his career in Atlanta and then Minnesota in 2016 where he retired from the NFL citing back issues.

Still on the fence

2015 – DeVante Parker

Parker has largely been a bust but he remains off the “bust” list for now as he will remain with the Dolphins in 2019 with the hopes that a new coaching staff can turn the tide on his career.

2017 – Charles Harris

Fans are still wondering what the Dolphins saw in Charles Harris who has not come close to being a productive first-round draft pick. He will get the chance in 2019 as the Dolphins will rely on him heavily given the lack of depth on the roster. Harris is in line to be the starting defensive end this season in Brian Flores’ defense.