Miami Dolphins best and worst draft picks from the ACC
By Brian Miller
Clemson – 9 players
It sure seems as though Miami would have drafted more from Clemson but that isn’t the case and frankly, they could have skipped half of the ones they did. The first four draft picks made from the school from 1976 to 1998 didn’t last more than two years at most if they even made the roster. Lorenzo Bromell was the first player to make an impact.
Bromell spent four years with the Dolphins contributing 21.5 sacks. He played three more years in the NFL.
Miami drafted Philip Merling in round two of the 2008 draft. He was the 32nd overall pick. He spent four seasons with Miami and two more with two different teams. Despite his draft status, Merling was never better than average.
Chris Clemons was never a great player but he was a sound back-up safety for his five years in Miami. He played seven seasons total after being drafted in 2009 in the 5th round.
Cordrea Tankersley was taken in round three of the 2017 draft. He played two injury-filled seasons with Miami and last year was with the Vikings.
The last player drafted out of Clemson was Christian Wilkins. Wilkins has been very good so far with the Dolphins after being the number one pick of the team in 2019. He has yet to take a big next step but he has stood out as one of the emotional defensive leaders.
Duke – 3 – Ed Newman – 6th round 1973 played until 1984, Charles Bowser 82 to 85.
Only three players have been drafted out of Duke in North Carolina and one of them is considered one of Miami’s hidden treasures. In 1973 the Dolphins selected Ed Newman in round six. The guard played his entire career with the Dolphins and is on the team’s “Walk of Fame”. His 12 year career included the Pro Bowl the last four seasons of his career and in his final season a First-Team All-Pro.
Florida State – 9 players
From 1968 to 1982 the Dolphins drafted four players from the college but none of them lasted beyond a year in the NFL. It wasn’t until Sammie Smith was taken in round one of the 1989 draft that Miami got production from an FSU player. Smith is considered a bust by any standards. He lasted three seasons in Miami and was traded to the Broncos in year four, his last.
Travis Minor was a solid change of pace runner who was drafted in 2001. He played six years with the Dolphins and far outshined Smith. His final two years in the league were with the Rams. Finally, the Dolphins drafted Lorenzo Booker in 2007. He spent one year with Miami and then played in Philly for a season before wrapping his career with two seasons on the Vikings roster.