Omar Kelly: Dolphins GM Chris Grier must decide whether to draft now or more picks later | Opinion
The body may need to shed old skin in order to make place for new growth. That’s where Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier finds himself heading into this week’s NFL Draft, as the organization he has led for the previous five offseasons shifts course once more. The Dolphins are undergoing yet another transformation, transitioning from the “[forget] them picks” era of the previous two offseasons — a period that coincided with the franchise’s effort to build a Super Bowl contender — to a draft-and-develop, talent harvesting team that must replenish the roster with younger, less expensive labor as Miami prepares to pay a high quarterback salary.
When quarterbacks demand $40 million to $50 million per year, which is roughly what Tua Tagovailoa’s next contract will pay him, the financial belt must be tightened, and organizations must draft and develop players successfully to do so. Miami had a distressing and painful outflow of talent this spring, as former draftees-turned-starters such as Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel, Raekwon Davis, and Brandon Jones signed free agent contracts with teams that Miami was unwilling to match.
Then another set of former starters, including Xavien Howard, Jerome Baker, and Emmanuel Ogbah, were released to free up payroll space. As a result, this offseason’s priority has been to find replacements and reload the shelves. The majority of roster vacancies have been filled through free agency, with signings such as Jordyn Brooks, Aaron Brewer, Kendall Fuller, and others, but there are still glaring needs on the offensive and defensive lines, and Miami would benefit from adding a top-tier receiver and a safety or two. The problem is that Miami has only six picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and only two of them (Nos. 21 and 55) are among the first 155 picks.
That’s why Grier must seriously consider trading down in the first two rounds to acquire up additional picks if he wants to replace more voids with rookies, who are inexpensive labor for at least their first three seasons.
Draftees with upside are the most cost-effective way to restock the shelves, but it could come at a cost considering Grier feels Miami’s in position to land a prospect with a legitimate first-round grade if the Dolphins stay at 21. “I think we’re open to everything, but also you don’t want to pass on a good player,” Grier said last week in his annual predraft news conference. “If there is someone there that we all feel very strongly about that can really impact our roster, it’s [a debate about] how far can you drop down and still possibly get him? “You always weigh those factors of, yeah, it’s great to pick up an extra third, but if that second-round player is someone we believe in, like a Jevon Holland or Jarvis Landry in the second round, then you’ll take the player.”
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