Chase Young would be nice, but don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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The Dolphins are within reach of the second pick, so it’s natural that Chase Young speculation is circulating. But don’t get overly attached to the idea.

Before I go any further, I am a Chase Youg fan. So, let’s nip that in the bud. I’d also love to see him on the Dolphins. This isn’t an article about not taking Chase Young. It’s about managing expectations and keeping on the path of a healthy rebuild.

Here’s my concern with all the Chase Young theories. There are too many fantastical, make-believe scenarios that are making their rounds. First things first, it’s both realistic and acceptable for the Miami Dolphins to draft Chase Young with the second overall pick

But the Dolphins would first need to procure the second pick to have the best chance of getting Chase Young. They’re projected to obtain either the third or fourth.

Second, if the Dolphins are on the outside looking in, a trade-up specifically for Young is not the way to go in the event they don’t get the second pick. Or if it’s a choice between Chase Young and the front office’s top-rated quarterback, then it should be a no-brainer. The answer isn’t Chase Young.

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It doesn’t matter who that quarterback is, either. It could be a healing Tua Tagvailoa or Justin Herbert or Jordan Love or Joe Burrow. It doesn’t matter which one I like or which one someone else likes. I’ll conform and get excited for whoever is dubbed the Dolphins quarterback of the future.

Here’s where things start to derail. Mock drafts or “perfect situations” where the Dolphins take Young THEN trade back up for Tua Tagvailoa or Justin Herbert or Joe Burrow is counterproductive to the rebuilding process, and it would prove challenging to actualize on draft night, trying to get the stars to align for a trade-up.

Yes, it would be very awesome to have both Young and the quarterback. But I think it would be prudent to use three first-rounders on other positions, offensive line and corner included. I’d be OK with not taking Chase Young and taking Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs, or Jeffrey Okudah instead.

They would address more urgent needs. They help pave the way for a young, growing, rebuilding team better than Young does. That’s not a slight against Young at all. I have no problem admitting that he’s the best player in the class; I would feel better hitting the Dolphins’ biggest needs with their earliest picks.

But come whatever may imagine Chase Young in a Dolphins uniform…