All Dolphins

Miami Dolphins NFL Draft Live Blog

We break down and analyze all the latest developments involving the Miami Dolphins and the 2020 NFL Draft

Alain Poupart

Christopher Hanewinc-USA Today Sports

It's finally here.

The 2020 NFL Draft has arrived, with the festivities scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Miami Dolphins will be in the spotlight during this draft perhaps more than any other team by virtue of their three first-round selections.

The Dolphins entered the day with the fifth, 18th and 26th overall selections as a result of their 2019 finish (5th), the trade that sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers (18th), and the megatrade trade that sent tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans (26th).

Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil
Jason Vinlove-USA Today Sports

The Dolphins never had made three first-round selections in a draft in their history.

They have ended up with two first-round picks four times: 1968 (RB Larry Csonka, T Doug Crusan), 1976 (LB Larry Gordon, LB Kim Bokamper), 1989 (RB Sammie Smith, S Louis Oliver), 1992 (CB Troy Vincent, DE Marco Coleman).

In addition to the first-round picks, the Dolphins have two selections in Round 2, putting them in line to become the eighth team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with five picks in the first two rounds (no team has ever had six).

The Dolphins have had five picks in the first three rounds three times — in 1979, 1997 and 1998. They made the playoffs all three of those seasons.

The Dolphins will enter the 2020 draft widely expected to focus on the following positions: quarterback, offensive tackle, running back, defensive line and safety.

Rumors already have surfaced about the Dolphins looking up to move up to get the third overall pick, which belongs to the Detroit Lions.

There are variations as to what a Dolphins trade with Detroit would look like, including one where the Dolphins would keep the fifth overall pick.

In that scenario, it's almost impossible to envision the Dolphins not taking a quarterback with one of those two picks, whether it be Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert.

Oregon QB Justin Herbert
Vasha Hunt

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE — In case there was any doubt as to which player Dolphins fans want to see selected with the first pick, there shouldn't be.

This actually has been pretty consistent for a while now.

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In fact, can't recall Dolphins fans being so adamant about a certain pick. Might have to go back to 2007 when the fan base wanted Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn before the team selected Ted Ginn Jr.

The pick was widely booed at a Dolphins fan party, but Quinn ended up having a very short NFL career and Ginn is still going 13 years later.

TUA MEDICAL CHECK —  Stephania Bell of ESPN is offering a pretty glowing medial review of Tagovailoa's injured hip.

The only problem there is the report doesn't affect the long-term outlook in terms of Tagovailoa's durability prospects.

ANYBODY'S GUESS — To give you an idea of how well the Dolphins have kept everybody in the dark as to their plan, well-plugged-in ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington put out an interesting tweet to illustrate the point.

THE DO-IT-ALL DEFENDER: For the record, this is my favorite player in the entire 2020 NFL draft.

When a group of eight SI NFL team publishers gathered for a mock draft Monday night, Clemson's Isaiah Simmons was my pick as the fith overall pick even though Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert both were available.

The rationale is that Coach Brian Flores could use him the way he had envisioned using Minkah Fitzpatrick last summer before Fitzpatrick balked.

Simmons' name hasn't been mentioned in connection with the Dolphins, but don't dismiss the possibility.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: So there's a report out there about Houston Texans coach/GM Bill O'Brien being interested in moving up back into the first round.

The Texans' first-round pick, of course, belongs to the Dolphins as a result of the trade involving Laremy Tunsil. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report had a suggestion for the Dolphins here.

Hmm. Picks 18 and 26 for QB DeShaun Watson? Hard to say no to that if you're the Dolphins, no?

Of course, would O'Brien actually accept such a deal? More to the point, can he really afford to trade Watson after unloading DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the offseason?

It's fun to think about at least.

HISTORY LESSON — For those Dolphins fans needing a refresher, here are the team's all-time first picks (starting with the common draft in 1967):

2019 — DT Christian Wilkins (13th)

2018 — S Minkah Fitzpatrick (11th)

2017 — DE Charles Harris (22nd)

2016 — T Laremy Tunsil (13th)

2015 — WR DeVante Parker (14th)

2014 — T Ja'Wuan James (19th)

2013 — DE Dion Jordan (3rd)

2012 — QB Ryan Tannehill (8th)

2011 — C Mike Pouncey (15th)

2010 — DT Jared Odrick (28th)

2009 — CB Vontae Davis (25th)

2008 — T Jake Long (1st)

2007 — WR Ted Ginn Jr. (9th)

2006 — DB Jason Allen (16th)

2005 — RB Ronnie Brown (2nd)

2004 — G/T Vernon Carey (19th)

2003 — None

2002 — None

2001 — CB Jamar Fletcher (26th)

2000 — None

1999 — None

1998 — RB John Avery (29th)

1997 — WR Yatil Green (15th)

1996 — DT Daryl Gardener (20th)

1995 — T Billy Milner (25th)

1994 — DT Tim Bowens (20th)

1993 — WR O.J. McDuffie (25th)

1992 — CB Troy Vincent (7th), LB Marco Coleman (12th)

1991 — WR Randal Hill (23rd)

1990 — T Richmond Webb (9th)

1989 — RB Sammie Smith (9th), S Louis Oliver (25th)

1988 — DE Eric Kumerow (16th)

1987 — DE John Bosa (16th)

1986 — None

1985 — RB Lorenzo Hampton (27th)

1984 — LB Jackie Shipp (14th)

1983 — QB Dan Marino (27th)

1982 — G Roy Foster (24th)

1981 — RB David Overstreet (13th)

1980 — CB Don McNeal (21st)

1979 — T Jon Giesler (24th)

1978 — None

1977 — DE A.J. Duhe (13th)

1976 – LB Larry Gordon (17th), LB Kim Bokamper (19th)

1975 — T Darryl Carlton (23rd)

1974 — DE Don Reese (24th)

1973 — None

1972 — DT Mike Kadish (25th)

1971 — None

1970 — None

1969 — DE Bill Stanfill (4th)

1968 — RB Larry Csonka (4th), T Doug Crusan (27th)

1967 — QB Bob Griese (4th)

FINS FLASHBACK — Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux relived his draft day on Twitter, complete with analyst Mike Mayock, who is now the GM of the Las Vegas Raiders.

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COMPETITION FOR DETROIT PICK? — So now the Jacksonville Jaguars also are looking to land Detroit's pick at 3 and they have plenty to offer.

In addition to have the ninth and 20th selections in the first round, Jacksonville also has two high-profile veterans to offer in a trade — running back Leonard Fournette and pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

One report had the Jaguars looking to move up to select Tagovailoa.

THE TUA FAN CLUB — It's not just the fans who have been on the Tua bandwagon, but also the South Florida media.

I've been covering the Dolphins for more than 30 years, and I cannot recall reporters being so vocal about their support for a prospect at draft time as they have been about Tagovailoa.

It's almost as though they'll take it personally if the Dolphins don't take him.

For the record, I don't see Tagovailoa as the slam-dunk NFL star that most of my South Florida counterparts see.

Maybe that's why I never saw him as a slam-dunk pick for the Dolphins at No. 5 or even earlier in the first round.

BYE-BYE BURROW: Not that there seemed to be much of a chance, but the following tweet from Adam Schefter means you can pretty much forget the idea of the Dolphins being able to swing a monster trade for Joe Burrow.

This truly should not come as a surprise. While there's a ton of debate about Tua and Herbert and even Jordan Love, there should be none about Joe Burrow.

He would have looked great in a Dolphins uniform, no question. But that's not going to happen.

WISH LIST: So we're just about to get started with the 2020 NFL draft, so here's my wish list for the Dolphins first round.

I want Joe Burrow.

Wait, that won't happen.

OK, my wish list: My man crush Isaiah Simmons is the pick at No. 5. He'll be a demon anywhere he lines up in the Dolphins defense.

At No. 18, it's got to be a tackle, whether it be Josh Jones or Austin Jackson. I'm also OK with the Dolphins moving up from 18 to, say, 13, to get one of the top four OTs.

I'm also OK with the Dolphins making that move up to get either Herbert or Tua.

At 26, I'd like Jordan Love if the Dolphins didn't get Tua or Herbert before. If they went QB-OT with the first two picks, then the pick at 26 should be D'Andre Swift, the running back from Georgia.

QB TALK: With all the speculation about the Dolphins taking a quarterback in the first round, here's a look at all the possible ways they could make it happen.

FORMER GM TAKE: Interesting take by former Redskins and Texans GM Charley Casserly on the decision of whether to take Tua Tagovailoa.

There clearly is a lot riding on the Dolphins' decisions at quarterback in this draft as they measure risk vs. reward (assuming they're all sold on Tua's long-term potential as an NFL quarterback.

FINS FLASHBACK: If you look at the cover photo at the top of this live blog, you just knew it would make its way into the broadcast somehow.

It's 8:20 p.m. with no pick made.

FIRST PICK — Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Shocker!

Shame the Dolphins didn't get the chance to get him. His 2019 season was nothing short of ridiculous. Best by a college QB I've ever seen!

SECOND PICK — Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Another expected pick. Now it gets fun.

***If Detroit stays put at No. 3, gotta think it's for a defensive player, Derrick Brown, Isaiah Simmons or the pre-draft consensus here, Jeff Okudah.

THIRD PICK, DETROIT — Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

So the Lions end up hanging on to the pick and taking the guy who had been targeted for them in most mocks.

Giants are up and could be another candidate to trade down. If not, it's Simmons or a tackle.

*** Giants pick is in, which means the Dolphins are up!

Dolphins will have their choice of non-Burrow QBs or one of the tackles or Derrick Brown or Isaiah Simmons.

FOURTH PICK, N.Y. GIANTS — Andrew Thomas, T, Georgia

Not a shock. Kudos to Patricia Traina for nailing the pick in the SI NFL team publisher mock draft Monday.

***OK, Dolphins are up.

So the choices have to be Jedrick Wills, Mehki Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Isaiah Simmons, Derrick Brown, Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert.

The suspense finally will be over and we'll know where the Dolphins stand on the QBs.

***The bearded lunatic from Harvard? Great description of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

FIFTH PICK, DOLPHINS — Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

After all the talk, all the conjecture, it's Tua after all!

Dolphins obviously feel confident about Tua's physical condition. The guy clearly is a quality quarterback.

His tape at Alabama is some kind of outrageous, though he did have the benefit of really talented receivers and a great offensive line.

TUA GRADE: This was the Sports Illustrated overview and grade on the Dolphins' selection of Tua Tagovailoa.

"Consider this the perfect world for Stephen Ross’s team. The wildly unfair 'Tanking for Tua' slogan proved false, but only because the Dolphins played so much better in the second half of last season and fell all the way to No. 5 in the draft order. Tagovailoa’s late-season hip injury may have been a blessing in disguise, as none of the other QB-needy teams traded up to get him. That hip is reportedly healed, and there is time for it to get even stronger as the Dolphins don’t need Tagovailoa to play right away. But it’d be a surprise if he’s not the starter come mid-November. The Dolphins are still in the early phases of a massive rebuild, and stopgap veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick can be counted on for at least a half-dozen of the type of head-scratching interceptions that get a quarterback benched. Tagovailoa’s draft status also speaks to the expanding definition of an NFL quarterback. Ten years ago, a small-statured, good-but-not-great-armed QB would have never gone fifth overall. But football IQ, athleticism and intangibles have become even more valued at the position. Still, for Tagovailoa to succeed, the Dolphins must support him with a strong cast and crisply defined system. He projects to the NFL as more of a timing and rhythm passer than a Russell Wilson-style playmaker."

The grade given was a B.

THE NEXT PICKS — Justin Herbert went sixth to the Chargers (not a shocker), Derrick Brown to Carolina at seven, Isaiah Simmons to Arizona at 8 and C.J. Henderson to Jacksonville at 9, and Jedrick Wills to Cleveland at 10.

TACKLE TIME — The next order of priority for the Dolphins clearly has to be an offensive tackle and it would not be a shocker to see them try to move up from 18 to land of the top-tier tackles.

Through the first 10 picks, there are two of them left — Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs.

RUN ON TACKLES — So Becton went to 11 to the Jets and Henry Ruggs III went to the Raiders and the Bucs moved up to 13th to take Tristan Wirfs of Iowa.

That means the top four offensive tackles are gone.

DOLPHINS ON THE CLOCK — Javon Kinlaw is gone, so are the four tackles. 

So the options here could include LSU edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson (which would make Davon Godchaux very happy), one of the top safeties (Grant Delpit, Antoine Winfield Jr. or Xavier McKinney) or they could go for one of the second-tier tackles — Josh Jones perhaps or Ezra Cleveland or Austin Jackson.

Another wild card is a running back, maybe D'Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor.

***"We got good news for Tua. We got good news for Tua."

Dolphins select USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson.

***Donated bona marrow to his sister last summer. Austin Jackson was the best match as a donor. Sister doing well.

***Back after missing some picks, Saints at 24 take Michigan C Cesar Ruiz, who might have been a Dolphins target.

One pick before the Dolphins select again and there's not been a safety picked, not a running back. The Dolphins also could go for another offensive lineman, such as Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland or Isaiah Wilson.

DOLPHINS ON THE CLOCK — Could they be talking to a team about trading down?

BINGO!

Nice, Dolphins get a 4th-round pick to move back only four spots. That makes it 15 picks for the Dolphins.

WHOA! Packers use the pick from Miami to take QB Jordan Love, who becomes the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers.

***Dolphins one pick away from taking and all safeties and all running backs are still available.

So maybe D'Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor or Antoine Winfield Jr. or Grant Delpit or Xavier McKinney or maybe even Josh Jones.

DOLPHINS ON THE CLOCK AGAIN — Gotta be safety or running back here, no?

Maybe Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland?

Should mention A.J. Epenesa or Yetur Gross-Matos as possibilities too?

My preference would be Swift.

DOLPHINS PICK — It's Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. Dolphins have a large contingent at the Auburn Pro Day before all of those were canceled because of the coronarivus pandemic.

Both of Igbinoghene's parents competed in the Olympics for Nigeria. Started his career as a receiver before moving to cornerback.

***Igbinoghene might be best suited to play nickel corner, which would mean that Bobby McCain will stay at safety.

Published
Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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