Twenty years and Miami Dolphins still search for the next Dan Marino

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 20: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers calls a play from the line of scrimmage in the second half against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field on October 20, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2005

The Dolphins possessed the 2nd overall pick in 2005 and surely could have gotten a great QB right? Well, they selected RB Ronnie Brown after Ricky Williams’ sudden retirement. Alex Smith, QB out of Utah, was the 1st overall selection that year. Many thought it could have been Aaron Rodgers, out of California. Now, many believe it should have been Rodgers. Well, I feel the Dolphins should have gone Aaron Rodgers at #2. This I count as one opportunity where the Dolphins could have successfully replaced Dan Marino (albeit 6 years later). The other quarterback who went in the 1st round that year was Jason Campbell who went to the Washington Redskins at 25th overall.

2006

Miami held the 16th overall pick in 2006 and, at that point, there were no quarterbacks on the board. Vince Young (3rd overall), Matt Leinart (10th overall), and Jay Cutler (11th overall) were the three quarterbacks taken that year. The Dolphins did end up with Cutler during the 2017 season for 14 starts after Ryan Tannehill went down with injury. He threw 19 TDs and 14 INTs that year. Let’s not forget. This offseason was also the year that the Dolphins could have signed Drew Brees in free agency which would have worked out beautifully as it turns out.

2007

This was the infamous JaMarcus Russell (1st overall) year. The Dolphins held the 9th overall pick and could have grabbed either Brady Quinn (22nd overall) or Kevin Kolb in the 2nd round (36th overall). No, thank you. 2007 was certainly not the year to need a signal caller.

2008

In 2008, the Dolphins selected in the top 3 once again, just 3 years after taking Ronnie Brown with the second pick. This time, they selected 1st overall and took Jake Long the big OT out of Michigan. He was a terrific offensive lineman for Miami for 5 seasons before moving on to the St. Louis Rams in 2013. As great as Jake Long is, the fins could have taken Matt Ryan (3rd overall) or Joe Flacco (18th overall) with that selection instead. Perhaps they could have even traded down for Flacco and gotten more draft capital for the future. While I don’t think either replaces Marino literally, they would have been far better options than what the Dolphins were going with.

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