The Miami Dolphins have had a strong start to the 2024 NFL season, but beneath the surface, their recent draft missteps are beginning to rear their ugly heads. Despite some early-season success, the team’s performance has been hindered by gaps in their roster that stem from a series of questionable draft decisions in recent years.
One of the most glaring issues is the Dolphins’ lack of consistent production from the offensive line, a unit that has struggled to protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins have invested in the offensive line through the draft but have missed on key picks, leaving the team vulnerable in critical moments. In particular, 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson, expected to be a cornerstone at left tackle, has failed to live up to expectations. His inconsistency in both pass protection and run blocking has been a weak spot, contributing to Tua taking too many hits and the running game being ineffective in some contests.
Similarly, their 2020 first-round pick, Noah Igbinoghene, who was selected as a cornerback, has not made the impact the Dolphins hoped for. While he was projected to become a lockdown corner in the NFL, Igbinoghene has struggled with coverage skills and often found himself on the bench, contributing little to a secondary that needs depth, especially with injuries to key players like Xavien Howard. This is compounded by the fact that the Dolphins passed on drafting other more reliable defensive prospects in favor of Igbinoghene, a decision that is now hurting their defensive schemes.
Moreover, the team’s draft capital in 2023 and 2024 was significantly reduced due to trades aimed at bringing in immediate talent, such as the acquisition of star receiver Tyreek Hill and others. While these moves have provided immediate offensive firepower, they’ve left the Dolphins with fewer opportunities to address long-term needs through the draft, leading to depth concerns at critical positions like linebacker and safety. The inability to develop homegrown talent due to draft misses puts enormous pressure on the Dolphins’ front office to continue hitting on free-agent acquisitions—an expensive and unsustainable method of team building.
In a league where drafting well is crucial for sustained success, the Dolphins’ failure to maximize key early picks is starting to take a toll. Without stronger contributions from recent draft classes, their Super Bowl aspirations may remain out of reach.
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