How accurate is the Miami Dolphins 2021 draft hype and analysis

The Miami Dolphins 2021 draft has many pundits giving the Dolphins an A. How accurate is the draft hype and analysis we’ve been reading about?

Are any of you reading this old enough to remember John Avery, Yatil Green, Jason Allen, or Ted Ginn Jr. I know most of you remember Dion Jordan and Charles Harris. Do you remember all the ‘first round’ hype regarding these players? I do. Not too accurate, huh!

You see, we’ve had a history of draft day disappointments. We’ve seen our team draft speed with lofty expectations, training camp superhero status, and then when it really mattered we’ve seen them disappear. Speed… John Avery; Speed…Ted Ginn Jr.; Speed….. Yatil Green. They all speedily became ex-Dolphins.

I’ve learned to temper my draft day expectations and instead focus on the thought process of those in the front office making the decisions. I’ve already given an opinion on Grier and Flores for past performances, but let me explain what I think about their 2021 draft.

One thing I really like about Grier and Flores is their ability to recognize that they’ve made a mistake personnel-wise and to always have a secondary plan in place. In the past, we’ve kept bad players too long, focused only on the now, and never really had a secondary plan. In the past, if we drafted or signed a player they must be stars because.. well, we’re too smart to be wrong, right?

I don’t find this to be the case with the current Dolphins regime. They look at the here and now, but also prep and plan for the future.

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By grabbing an extra first-round pick in 2023, Grier and Flores are saying ‘if we were wrong about Tua, we have the ammo to draft another quarterback in 2023. If we were right, we have two first-round picks. Give Grier and Flores credit for positioning our team for the future as well as the present.

Now let’s get to some of the actual picks.

At first, I was highly disappointed in the Waddle pick. You see, I remember vaunted draft picks and the speed hype only to be disappointed later. I also have an aversion to drafting receivers super high. (see my last post about drafting receivers)

But, there is a major difference between Waddle, the aforementioned ex-Dolphins, and other receivers. Waddle has speed, quickness, hands, and wiggle. They took a risk on a Tyreek Hill type player. I can respect that (especially if he can produce like Tyreek Hill).

Round 1: No. 6 (from PHI) – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Round 1: No. 18 – Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
Round 2: No. 36 (from HOU) – Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Round 2: No. 42 (from NYG) – Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Picks two and three showed their willingness to stick to their thought process of the here and now (pass rusher) with an eye on the future (a great player). They saw the value and need at 18, too good to pass up value at 36.

Personally, I wouldn’t have picked Phillips at 18 based on his concussion history. Medical staff must have thought otherwise. For now, only time will tell.

Sure they needed a running back in round 2; everyone thought they’d go running back and maybe they would have if the Bronco’s didn’t jump them to select Javonte Williams, but they weren’t going to reach and they had a backup plan. I can respect that too.

Jumping up for Liam Eichenberg… the now. Giving up our round 5 pick for a round 4 pick in 2022 .. the future. I see a theme and I like it! Plan for the now and plan for the future.

I might have disagreed with some of the picks (most armchair, know nothing, non-talent evaluating fans like me do from time to time)

But, the thought process Grier and Flores showed; that’s hard to disagree with.

Go Fins!!

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