The Miami Dolphins entered the 2023 NFL Draft with minimal resources.
They lost their first-round pick after being found guilty of tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, and had previously dealt other draft assets in trades for Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, Jalen Ramsey, and Jeff Wilson Jr..
Given that, the return from this draft was always going to be underwhelming. Let’s dive into the Dolphins’ 2023 NFL Draft class.
Dolphins NFL Draft Picks 2023
- Round 2, Pick 51 Overall: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
- Round 3, Pick 84 Overall: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
- Round 6, Pick 197 Overall: Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford
- Round 7, Pick 238 Overall: Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan
Dolphins NFL Futures Odds
Now that the NFL Draft is complete, get ready for the 2023-24 NFL season with the latest Dolphins odds and futures betting markets.
Dolphins Draft Grade 2023
Dolphins NFL Draft Grade: C
Our Frank Ammirante gave the Dolphins a C for their haul, which makes plenty of sense since Miami used its top pick on corner back Cam Smith despite already having plenty of depth at the position. However, the selection of speedy running back Devon Achane in Round 3 could prove to be one of the best of the round.
Click to see our full report card of 2023 NFL Draft Grades.
Note: The following information was written prior to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Dolphins Draft Team Needs 2023
1. Tight End
With Mike Gesicki now in New England, Miami’s depth chart at tight end currently consists of Durham Smythe, Tanner Conner, and Eric Saubert. Those three guys combined for 30 catches, 277 yards, and two touchdowns last season, fewer than Gesicki managed on his own.
Although this offense primarily runs through star wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, giving Tua Tagovailoa another pass-catching option that can also help with protection should be a priority.
2. EDGE
Miami’s defense will look dramatically different this season under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who tends to play more zone coverage and doesn’t blitz as often as Dolphins former DC Josh Boyer. Therefore, he’ll need guys on the edge who can get after the quarterback.
2022 first-rounder Jaelan Phillips led the team with seven sacks and Bradley Chubb should be a formidable force in his first full season in South Beach after being acquired from Denver at last year’s trade deadline. However, there isn’t much depth behind those two, so adding a pass-rushing prospect in the middle rounds would make sense.
3. Offensive Tackle
The Dolphins dealt with a number of offensive line injuries in 2022 but were primarily affected at the tackle spots. Left tackle Terron Armstead has never played the full complement of games in his 10 NFL seasons, and right tackle Austin Jackson played just twice last season because of ankle issues.
Jackson had a PFF grade of 49.9 in 2021, so even when healthy, he hasn’t been the answer. Given Tagovailoa’s injury history, protecting the lefty’s blind side should be a priority.
Dolphins May Also Consider Drafting: Linebacker, Punter
Dolphins NFL Draft Round 1 Mock 2023
- Round 2, Pick 51 Overall: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
As of April 10, our own Anthony Cervino is predicting the Dolphins will pick this talented tight end who hails from a football family (his dad is Browns senior offensive assistant Bill Musgrave). Read our full NFL Mock Draft.
Dolphins NFL Draft Pick History
Dolphins NFL Draft Picks 2022
- Round 3, Pick 38 (102nd Overall): Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
- Round 4, Pick 20 (125th Overall): Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
- Round 7, Pick 3 (224th Overall): Cameron Goode, OLB, California
- Round 7, Pick 26 (247th Overall): Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
