The best Miami Dolphins players ever drafted out of “The U”

Olivier Vernon

Drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Olivier Vernon was one of the most productive young defenders for the Miami Dolphins during that particular era.

Vernon became a starter in his second season with Miami, and enjoyed his best year during that sophomore campaign. He had 11.5 sacks that season, good enough to tie him for 7th most in the league. He had 13 tackles for losses and hit the quarterback a total of 16 times. During his final season with the Dolphins, Vernon was a part of one of the best defensive line units in the league. Ndamukong Suh and Earl Mitchell held down the interior, while Vernon and Cameron Wake were the rushers coming off of the edge.

But when it came time to pay Vernon, the Dolphins decided to pass. They allowed him to walk in free agency, and the New York Giants forked over a five-year, $85 million contract in 2016. He would go on to play five more years between both the Giants and Browns, and was even named a Pro Bowl replacement in 2019.

Vernon’s collegiate career was not exactly a decorated one, and he is certainly more well known in South Florida as a Dolphin rather than a Hurricane.