The remnants of the historic Laremy Tunsil trade have finally dissipated. Unlike previous seasons where Miami Dolphins fans could count on a host of new and exciting rookies to enter Hard Rock Stadium, there are just a handful of prospects joining the franchise from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Chris Grier has been uber-aggressive ever since Mike McDaniel entered the building. They feel there is a win-now window with Tua Tagovailoa’s rookie deal, trading for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, Bradley Chubb midseason, and Tyreek Hill last offseason. Yet, the draft has been an entirely different result for Grier.
The Dolphins entered the 2023 NFL Draft with the least draft capital of any team, but who did they select with the picks they did have?
Miami Dolphins Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 2, Pick 51
Cam Smith, CB | South Carolina - Round 3, Pick 84 (From NE)
Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M - Round 6, Pick 197 (From CHI)
Elijah Higgins, WR/TE, Stanford - Round 7, Pick 238
Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan
How Many Draft Picks Did the Dolphins Have Entering the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Dolphins only possessed four picks. Although that is certainly not much ammunition to work with, their roster-building focus has seemingly been on acquiring proven veterans rather than filling needs with draft picks.
The Dolphins originally had two first-round picks in 2023. They lost their own pick after the league found them guilty of tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. Then, this past November, Miami traded their remaining first-round pick to the Denver Broncos in a package for pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
MORE: History of Miami Dolphins First-Round NFL Draft Picks
Starting the draft on Day 2, Miami used its original pick in Round 2. For Round 3, Miami initially had two third-round selections. They acquired the additional third-rounder last offseason from the New England Patriots in a trade that involved former first-round WR DeVante Parker.
But Miami wisely used that New England pick for a better purpose than drafting a rookie: Jalen Ramsey. The Dolphins traded the additional pick (77th overall) and TE Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams.
On Day 3, Miami owned just two picks, having traded their fourth and sixth-round picks away in the Tyreek Hill deal. The Dolphins also traded their lone fifth-rounder ahead of the trade deadline for RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Who Did the Dolphins’ Draft In 2023?
The Dolphins entered the 2023 Draft without a first-round pick. They had major holes across the offensive line and limited opportunity to address them. When their second-round pick came up, they surprisingly took cornerback Cam Smith. There is no doubt that he was one of the best available players at that time. But he is added to a relatively strong group on the roster, especially following the trade for Jalen Ramsey.
MORE: Miami Dolphins 2023 Schedule
They selected RB Devon Achane in the third round, which again does not address the massive OL need, highlighting their obvious desire for speed. Achane has elite speed, and combined with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Raheem Mostert, the Dolphins may have the fastest offense in all of football. Will Tua have enough time behind that line to find them?