Drafting in the NFL is basically high-stakes gambling with someone else's billions. You spend months watching tape, interviewing kids who barely started shaving, and running medical checks that would make a NASA astronaut blush. Then, you cross your fingers. For the Miami Dolphins, the history of dolphins first round picks is a wild, sometimes nauseating rollercoaster that explains exactly why the team is in its current position.
It’s not just about finding a superstar. It’s about not tripping over your own feet when the clock is ticking in April.
Honestly, if you look back at the last decade, the Dolphins have been surprisingly aggressive. They haven't played it safe. Sometimes that pays off in the form of a franchise cornerstone like Jaylen Waddle, and other times it leads to the kind of "what were they thinking?" moments that keep fans up at night. You've seen it happen. A name gets called, the highlights roll, and half the fan base is already googling "buyout clauses" while the other half is ordering a jersey.
The Tua Tagovailoa Gamble and the Ripple Effect
We have to talk about 2020. It is the pivot point for the modern era of this franchise. Taking Tua Tagovailoa at number five overall was the ultimate "swing for the fences" move, especially considering the "Tank for Tua" campaign that preceded it. People forget how much medical anxiety surrounded that pick. The hip injury at Alabama wasn't just a bruise; it was a potentially career-ending subluxation.
But Miami stuck to their board.
When you look at dolphins first round picks, Tua represents the shift from a team trying to find its identity to a team trying to build an offense that actually scares people. However, the nuance here is that the pick didn't exist in a vacuum. Miami had three—yes, three—first-round picks that year.
Austin Jackson came at 18. Noah Igbinoghene came at 30.
If you're being real, that 2020 draft is a masterclass in how draft capital can be both a blessing and a curse. While Tua eventually found his rhythm under Mike McDaniel’s track-meet offense, Jackson struggled for years with technique and consistency before finally finding his footing as a reliable starter recently. Igbinoghene, meanwhile, never really clicked in Miami’s system and was eventually traded to Dallas. It’s a reminder that even with three shots in the dark, you’re lucky to hit the bullseye once.
Drafting is hard. Even for the guys getting paid millions to do it.
Speed, More Speed, and Jaylen Waddle
In 2021, the Dolphins decided they were tired of being slow. They traded back, then traded up, and eventually landed Jaylen Waddle at number six. This was a move that defined the Chris Grier era. They didn't just want a receiver; they wanted a specific type of game-breaker.
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Waddle’s rookie season was a statistical anomaly. 104 receptions. That broke the NFL rookie record at the time. What makes Waddle stand out among other dolphins first round picks isn't just the speed—it's the reliability. Usually, "speed guys" are "diva guys" or "drop guys." Waddle is neither.
But wait. There’s a catch.
To get Waddle, the Dolphins traded away a 2022 first-round pick. This started a trend. Miami began treating first-round picks like currency rather than just players. They used their 2022 and 2023 capital to facilitate trades for established stars like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb.
Is it better to have a 21-year-old rookie on a cheap contract or a 28-year-old All-Pro who costs $30 million a year? That’s the debate that divides the Miami front office from the traditionalists. Most fans don't care about the salary cap when Hill is backflipping into the end zone, but it limits what you can do later.
The Christian Wilkins Legacy and Defensive Identity
Before the offense became a high-flying circus, Miami used their first-rounders to build the "trenches." Christian Wilkins (2019, 13th overall) was the heartbeat of that locker room for half a decade. He wasn't just a defensive tackle; he was a personality.
Wilkins is a great example of a "safe" first-round pick that actually worked. He played nearly every snap, led defensive linemen in tackles, and brought a level of energy that you can't coach. When he left for the Raiders in free agency in 2024, it left a massive hole.
This highlights a recurring issue with dolphins first round picks: retention.
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (2018): Traded after a year and a half because of a scheme dispute.
- Laremy Tunsil (2016): Traded for a "king's ransom" of picks that eventually became the current roster.
- DeVante Parker (2015): Showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with injuries for years.
The Dolphins have been excellent at identifying talent, but they’ve often used that talent as leverage for more assets rather than building a ten-year legacy with one player. Tunsil is the prime example. Taking him after the "gas mask video" slide was brilliant. Trading him for two firsts and a second was even more brilliant, according to the spreadsheets. But at some point, you have to stop trading for picks and start keeping the stars.
Recent Hits and Misses
In 2024, the Dolphins went back to the well for pass-rush help, selecting Chop Robinson out of Penn State. He’s the prototypical Miami pick: freakish athleticism, high ceiling, but raw.
If you look at the track record of dolphins first round picks like Charles Harris (2017), you get nervous. Harris was supposed to be the next great edge rusher but ended up being a "bust" in Miami before finding a second life elsewhere. Robinson has to break that mold. The pressure on a first-round edge rusher in a Vic Fangio or Anthony Weaver defense is immense. You aren't just there to occupy a gap; you're there to finish plays.
Then there’s Jaelan Phillips (2021). Phillips is the gold standard for what Miami wants in a first-rounder. He’s a local kid (University of Miami) who overcame massive injury concerns to become one of the most productive young rushers in the league. His Achilles injury in late 2023 was a devastating blow, but his trajectory before that was straight to the Pro Bowl.
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The Philosophy of the "Lost" Picks
It’s impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the picks that never happened. Due to the tampering investigation involving Tom Brady and Sean Payton, the Dolphins forfeited their 2023 first-round pick.
Think about that.
In a league where rookie contracts are the only way to balance a bloated salary cap, losing a first-rounder for nothing is a catastrophic failure of management. It forced the team to be even more aggressive in free agency, which leads to a "win-now" window that is much narrower than it should be.
When you analyze dolphins first round picks, you have to account for the "ghost picks." The players they could have had—like a young offensive lineman or a physical cornerback—aren't there to help when the starters go down in December.
What History Teaches Us About Miami's Strategy
Miami tends to fall in love with "traits." They love the guy who runs the 4.3 forty or the guy with the 40-inch vertical.
Look at Dion Jordan in 2013. Miami traded up to the number three spot to grab him. On paper, he was a Greek god. In reality, he couldn't stay on the field for various reasons. That pick set the franchise back years. Compare that to the 1983 draft where they took Dan Marino at 27. Sometimes the best picks aren't the ones you move up for; they're the ones that fall into your lap because other teams are overthinking it.
The current regime under Chris Grier seems to have learned this. They are less likely to reach for a "project" and more likely to take a high-floor player like Waddle or a high-impact athlete like Phillips.
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Why It Matters for 2026 and Beyond
As the Dolphins move into the later half of the 2020s, the margin for error is gone. With massive contracts for Tua, Tyreek Hill, and Jalen Ramsey, the team must hit on their first-round picks to survive. They can no longer afford to miss on a Noah Igbinoghene or a Charles Harris.
A first-round pick in Miami isn't just a player anymore. It’s a lifeline.
If they keep drafting for speed and ignoring the physical reality of the AFC East (which usually involves playing in the freezing cold in Buffalo or New York in January), the cycle of "great regular season, early playoff exit" will continue. The draft room needs to prioritize "playoff-proof" players—guys who can win in the trenches when the passing game is grounded by a 30-mph wind.
Actionable Steps for Evaluating Future Picks
To understand where the Dolphins are going, you should look at these three indicators during the next draft cycle:
- The "Trenches" Test: If Miami ignores the offensive line in the first round again, expect more late-season collapses. They need a tackle who can anchor the right side for a decade.
- Trade Trends: Watch if they continue to trade away future first-rounders for "name" veterans. If they do, the window is closing fast. If they keep the picks, they are pivoting toward a more sustainable, long-term build.
- Medical Red Flags: Miami has shown a willingness to take risks on players with injury histories (Tua, Phillips). This "high risk, high reward" strategy is their DNA. Check the medical reports of their top targets; it usually tells you exactly who they are eyeing.
Ultimately, the story of dolphins first round picks is a story of a franchise trying to find a shortcut to the Super Bowl. Sometimes the shortcut works, and sometimes you end up stuck in traffic. The next few years will determine if this aggressive philosophy finally results in a trophy or if it’s just another flashy highlight reel in a season that ends too early.