Miami Dolphins: Every Chris Grier draft class, ranked

#4: 2016

1-13: Laremy Tunsil – OT – Ole Miss
2-38: Xavien Howard – CB – Baylor
3-37: Kenyan Drake – RB – Alabama
3-86: Leonte Carroo – WR – Rutgers
6-186: Jakeem Grant – WR – Texas Tech
6-204: Jordan Lucas – S – Penn State
7-223: Brandon Doughty – QB – Western Kentucky
7-231: Thomas Duarte – TE – UCLA

Chris Grier’s first draft as the head of football operations, the 2016 Draft might have done more to set the Dolphins up for the future than any other on this list. There may only be one name that is still on the Dolphins’ roster, but that doesn’t minimize the impact of the players that were drafted.

Tunsil enjoyed solid developmental seasons in Miami before he was flipped to the Houston Texans in 2019 for a godfather offer that set the Dolphins up nicely with future draft assets, of which they are still reaping the benefits. Should the Dolphins become contenders in the next couple of years, they’ll have former Texans GM Bill O’Brien to thank.

The one player that remains is the one who has been the team’s best performer over the last 4-or-so seasons. Xavien Howard is a turnover machine, and has been the undisputed MVP of the team for at least the last two years. He has more interceptions since his rookie season than anyone else in the league (26) and is the crown jewel of the Dolphins’ secondary and defense.