With sports disappearing during isolation, the NFL Draft represented an opportunity to see some semblance of a live event. In addition, Miami had three first-round picks, making this an even more intense viewing experience. General manager Chris Grier and coach Brian Flores went through a lot of pain a year ago to put themselves in this position, so they were understandably elated to start reaping some of the rewards of that suffering.
The Dolphins hope they got their quarterback of the future in talented-but-injured Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick, then gave him some protection in offensive tackle Austin Jackson (No. 18). Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was the 'Fins final first-rounder at No. 30.
The pluses: Landing Tua by staying put offered good value for Miami, especially considering how long the team had been linked to the lefty. Some analysts feel that the 20-year-old Jackson has the athleticism and ceiling to become a stalwart left tackle, while Igbinoghene also has the physical makeup to be an ideal fit in a Flores defense. The Dolphins also prized big-name programs (Alabama, USC, and Auburn) early on, which is worth mentioning for a franchise that has been burned by small-school standouts in recent years. It's also noteworthy that trading back from No. 26 to No. 30 netted the 'Fins an extra fourth-rounder.
The negatives: Tua has a medical file that makes you want to dry heave, Jackson is raw and was manhandled by top prospects, and Igbinoghene was a wide receiver a couple of seasons ago. These are some of the reasons why Jackson and Igbinoghene were both seen as either slight or dramatic reaches at their respective spots. And look, amid all the talk about potential, there's a reasonable chance that Miami didn't land a Day 1 starter with three first-round picks. I mean, it's legit almost difficult to come up with a trio of first-rounders without feeling like at least one is a sure-fire starter from the jump.
The bottom line: There is no doubt that Tua brings a huge element of risk, especially with the reports that multiple teams had taken him off their draft boards entirely. However, this was a move that Miami needed to make, and the franchise has enough draft capital in coming years to rectify the position even if Tua doesn't pan out. Bringing him into the fold bought the Dolphins some hard-earned leeway from the fanbase, but Jackson and Igbinoghene are pure projection picks at this point. With so many proven and productive prospects available at those spots, there are legitimate questions about these selections, which brought most of the post-draft ratings down quite a bit.
If Tua becomes what Miami thinks he could become, all is forgiven -- if he succumbs to his injury history and the other two first-rounders fail to meet the team's scouting projections, both Grier and Flores will pay with their jobs.
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