Miami Dolphins 2021 Draft: 5 players that could be traded during the draft
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins 2021 Draft has been full of speculation and intrigue buoyed by two trades that put Miami at 12 and then six overall. Now, with the draft only a week away, the realization that some players may not be with the Dolphins come Sunday is starting to percolate.
The Dolphins will add starting-caliber players to their roster but they will also add depth as well. The problem Miami is going to have is that they need to fit these new players under their salary cap.
Miami currently has just over $6 million to use on their draft class and will potentially draft 8 players but they will still need to clear some space and these five players could potentially be traded during the draft next weekend.
His name has been mentioned since last year but there is nothing that indicates the Dolphins are looking to move him or that he has asked for a trade. Howard would be the one player that could give Miami more draft capital and he would clear around $9 million in cap space alone.
I would be surprised if Howard was traded during the first night of the draft, however. I think Miami may be able to trade him on day two in round two that would bring Miami a 2nd round pick this year and a first next year in 2022. Is that great compensation? No, but it may be the best the Dolphins could get.
Personally, I don’t see Howard being traded. The fact we have heard nothing about demands for a new contract after he switched agents tells me he is ready to roll with the Dolphins this year but as long as he is on the roster, there will be speculation that he won’t be.
Albert Wilson
Wilson sat out last season as part of the COVID buy-out. He is quick and agile and Miami could have used him last season. It was a good decision for him considering he had been injured the two years prior and could have used the extra recovery.
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Wilson may or may not, however, be in the Dolphins’ long-term plans. If the Dolphins draft a receiver early Wilson may be expendable. He is currently going to count $5.18 million in cap space this year but the Dolphins would save over $3.8 million trading him.
Allen Hurns
We could repeat just about everything here that we said about Wilson. Hurns will count $2.8 million and only save Miami around $766 k. That doesn’t give Miami incentive to release him or trade him. In fact, Hurns stands a pretty good shot at sticking around at least through camp but as long as the Dolphins are looking to improve their receivers, Hurns is going to be mentioned. Trading him would save Miami $2.6 million.
Jakeem Grant
Grant, to me, is the most likely of the three to be traded and Miami may have to eat some of his salary in the deal. Grant, like Wilson and Hurns, will probably only bring in a mid-round pick somewhere between five and six at best. Grant has the speed teams love and his very capable of handling the special team’s return duties but he is inconsistent as a receiver.
Grant will count $4.6 million against the cap and Miami would recover $2.8 million roughly in cap space.
Ereck Flowers
Flowers’ future with the Dolphins is unknown. If the Dolphins draft a top tackle in this year’s draft, Flowers may be traded or at least attempted to trade. Miami would save $8 million and eat $ 2 million if they traded him but it will be difficult given the fact that the team that trades for him will take on his big contract. Flowers has played well the last two years at guard but enough to draw any type of trade interest? Maybe a mid-round pick at best.