The Miami Dolphins only made four picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Last year, they dealt their first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in a move that netted Jaylen Waddle. They had an extra first-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers, but they sent that plus a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins had even traded their third-round pick in a move to get Liam Eichenberg. Miami’s draft began in the compensatory stage of the third round with the 102nd pick (acquired from the 49ers).
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft Recaps.
Best Pick: Channing Tindall (Round 3, Pick 102)
Tindall was not the best player available – or even the best linebacker available (Leo Chenal) – but he is a terrific player, and he might have been the best linebacker on the Georgia defense in 2021. While Nakobe Dean stole most of the headlines and Quay Walker went in the first round of the draft, Tindall has the raw athleticism and size to be a force at the linebacker position. He earned a stellar 9.69 RAS off the back of his elite speed and explosion grades. Only Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, Lewis Cine, and Zamir White posted higher RAS among Georgia players. The first three of those players went in the first round while the fourth is a running back.
For more on Tindall, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: A-
Worst Pick: Erik Ezukanma (Round 4, Pick 125)
Ezukanma is not a disaster of a pick, but he was not a top-five wide receiver when the Dolphins took him in the fourth round. Romeo Doubs went at Pick 132. Calvin Austin followed at Pick 138. Khalil Shakir (No. 148) and Kyle Phillips (No. 163) went off the board in the fifth round. Even Bo Melton was available until Pick 229. Ezukanma is not as polished as one would expect for a multi-year starter, and he is prone to making concentration drops. He is a fine receiver, but the Dolphins had many other superior options.
For more on Ezukanma, check out our scouting report on him.
Grade: C-
Sleeper Pick: Cameron Goode (Round 7, Pick 224)
The seventh-round is a perfect time to take chances on excellent athletes. Goode fits the bill as he posted a 9.45 RAS. He earned great marks in speed and agility while posting an elite explosion grade. He has good size for a linebacker, and he should be a star on special teams. If the Dolphins deploy him correctly, he could be a solid pro for a decade as an off-ball linebacker and sporadic blitzer in addition to his special teams’ duties.
Grade: C
Summary
The Dolphins only made three meaningful picks as they threw away their final pick by selecting a quarterback not named Carson Strong. With their three legitimate selections, the Dolphins got solid, unspectacular pieces. However, most of their draft capital went into Tyreek Hill, one of the game’s best players regardless of position. The Dolphins appear to be constructing a speed-based offense similar to what Tua Tagovailoa had at Alabama. If Hill is as impactful as he was with the Chiefs, this draft would technically be an A+. For now, it’s a solid draft with a potential starter and two depth pieces. The Dolphins used their available resources well.
Grade: B
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