The Dolphins' Strange Senior Bowl Trend

The Miami Dolphins have selected a player from the all-star game each of the past 21 drafts, but it's how those draft picks have panned out that is noteworthy
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul (52) in action during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium as a rookie.
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul (52) in action during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium as a rookie. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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Miami Dolphins fans definitely should pay attention to the Senior Bowl this week because history suggests they'll draft at least one of the participants.

But they also should know that might not necessarily be a good thing based again on recent history.

The Dolphins have taken at least one Senior Bowl participant every draft since 2003, the streak extending to 21 years when they selected tackle Patrick Paul from the University of Houston in 2024.

Paul showed promise as a rookie this season, but the jury will be out on how successful a pick he was for at least couple of years.

The verdict already is in for pretty much all of the Dolphins' other Senior Bowl draft picks since the streak began in 2004, and it's really not a pretty scorecard.

In fact, it's downright frightening.

THE DOLPHINS' SENIOR BOWL (NEAR) HITS AND MISSES

During their 21-year Senior Bowl draft streak, the Dolphins have taken 44 players who participated in the all-star game in Mobile, including five in 2014, and four in both 2013 and 2010.

With those 44 players, there are exactly ZERO combined Pro Bowl appearances.

Of those 44 players, only three got second contracts with the Dolphins (not including the fifth-year option for Ja'Wuan James or the franchise tag for Mike Gesicki). Those three players are long-snapper Blake Ferguson, special teams standout Walt Aikens, and linebacker Koa Misi. None could be high-impact players.

Defensive tackle Jared Odrick (drafted in 2010) and James (2014) were solid first-round picks, Gesicki and Misi had their moments as second-round selections, Kendall Langford was a good third-round choice, H-back Charles Clay was a steal in the sixth round, but there also were a lot of misses in early rounds.

Too many misses.

That list includes second-round picks DE/LB Matt Roth (2005), QB Chad Henne (2008), QB Pat White (2009) and CB Jamar Taylor (2013), as well as third-round selections LB Channing Tindall (2022), TE Hunter Long (2021), OL Michael Deiter (2019), WR Leonte Carroo (2016), CB Will Davis (2013), TE Michael Egnew (2012), WR Patrick Turner (2009) and Derek Hagan (2006).

Gesicki actually was the last Senior Bowl participant the Dolphins drafted who has made any kind of significant contribution, and he was selected back in 2018.

The Senior Bowl picks since: Deiter, Ferguson, Jason Strowbridge, Long, Tindall, Elijah Higgins, Ryan Hayes and Paul.

We probably should mention by now that the Senior Bowl annually produces some gems in the draft, from Richard Sherman to Aaron Donald and many others in between.

It's just that the Dolphins haven't really nailed one of those picks.

THE DOLPHINS' SENIOR BOWL PICKS SINCE 2004

2004 — CB Will Poole, 4th round, with Dolphins from 2004-05; LB Derrick Pope, 7th round, with Dolphins from 2004-07

2005 — DE/LB Matt Roth, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2005-09

2006 — WR Derek Hagan, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2006-08

2007 — C Samson Satele, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2007-08, 2014; RB Lorenzo Booker, 4th round, with Dolphins in 2007

2008 — QB Chad Henne, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2008-11; DL Kendall Langford, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2008-11

2009 — QB Pat White, 2nd round, with Dolphins in 2009; WR Patrick Turner, 3rd round, with Dolphins in 2009

2010 — DT Jared Odrick, 1st round, with Dolphins from 2010-14; LB Koa Misi, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2010-17; G John Jerry, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2010-13; LB A.J. Edds, 4th round, never played a game with the Dolphins

2011 — WR Clyde Gates, 4th round, with Dolphins in 2011; TE Charles Clay, 6th round, with Dolphins from 2011-14

2012 — TE Michel Egnew, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2012-13; DT Kheeston Randall, 7th round, with Dolphins in 2012

2013 — CB Jamar Taylor, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2013-15; CB Will Davis, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2013-15; OL Dallas Thomas, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2013-16; RB Mike Gillislee, 5th round, with Dolphins in 2013

2014 — T Ja'Wuan James, 1st round, with Dolphins from 2014-18; T Billy Turner, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2014-16; DB Walt Aikens, 4th round, with Dolphins from 2014-19; TE Arthur Lynch, 5th round, never played with the Dolphins; LB Jordan Tripp, 5th, with Dolphins in 2014

2015 — G Jamil Douglas, 4th round, with Dolphins from 2015-16

2016 — WR Leonte Carroo, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2016-18; RB Keyan Drake, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2016-19

2017 — G Isaac Asiata, 5th round, with Dolphins from 2017-18

2018 — TE Mike Gesicki, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2018-22

2019 — G Michael Deiter, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2019-22

2020 — DT Jason Strowbridge, 5th round, with Dolphins in 2020; LS Blake Ferguson, 6th round, with Dolphins from 2020-current

2021 — TE Hunter Long, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2021-22

2022 — LB Channing Tindall, 3rd round, with Dolphins from 2022-current

2023 — TE Elijah Higgins, 6th round, never played with Dolphins; T Ryan Hayes, 7th round, with Dolphins in 2024

2024 — T Patrick Paul, 2nd round, with Dolphins from 2024-current


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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI 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 and the Dolphins team website. 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.