3 biggest Dolphins 2024 NFL Draft mistakes

The Miami Dolphins will be looking for revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. The Chiefs ended an exciting season for the Dolphins in a 26-7 loss in a Wild Card game that featured frigid temperatures. Miami looked like it couldn’t handle the cold and was decisively sent home. If the Dolphins want to seriously compete in the AFC this season, it would help them a great deal to earn home field advantage in the playoffs.

With that goal in mind, Miami has made some solid moves throughout the offseason. The Dolphins have invested significant resources in maintaining their offensive power and seriously bringing their defense back up to snuff.

In free agency, the Dolphins added tight ends Jody Fortson and Jonnu Smith as well as center Aaron Brewer. On defense, they added Teair Tartt, Jordyn Brooks, Jordan Poyer, and a slew of rotational players on the defensive line.

Miami filled several positions of need with picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, there were a few areas where the Dolphins could have improved their draft haul.

Here are three of the biggest NFL draft mistakes from the Miami Dolphins.

Not prioritizing offensive line in the first round

Credit where it’s due, Miami did select tackle Patrick Paul in the second round. However, offensive line feels like a bigger need than edge defender. It would have been nice to see Miami flop the order of their first two picks, selecting o-line first then circling back to EDGE.

In reality the Dolphins picked Chop Robinson at 21. They passed on a variety of talented offensive linemen including Jordan Morgan, Tyler Guyton, Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Kingsley Suamataia. Barton in particular stands out as someone who would have been an amazing pick for the Dolphins. Barton is incredibly versatile and could step in and play at any position on the offensive line. It’s hard to believe that Barton wouldn’t have been an awesome addition for Miami.

If Miami had selected an offensive lineman in the first round, then they would have had multiple options at edge defender in round two. Immediately following Miami selected Patrick Paul, edge defenders Marshawn Kneeland and Chris Braswell were picked back to back.

Graham Barton and Marshawn Kneeland would have been a great duo for Miami and would have filled the same needs that they came into the draft needing.

Jaylen Wright brings more of the same to running back room

The critique for this pick comes down to having a different philosophy on constructing a running back room.

Miami clearly values Wright for the speed he brings to their offense. The Dolphins are the fastest offense in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane, so adding Wright makes sense stylistically if you view him as an insurance policy and future successor to Raheem Mostert.

On the other hand, Wright does not bring anything different to the table. After their poor performance in Kansas City, it is fair to wonder if Miami should be doubling down on what makes their offense great or adding additional features. It would have been interesting to see them add a more balanced back or perhaps a dedicated power back.

Too much investment in receiver depth

The Miami Dolphins spent two late picks on wide receiver depth: Virginia’s Malik Washington and USC’s Tahj Washington.

The main critique of these picks is where they are projected to land on the depth chart in year one. Receiver is one position that can make an impact right away, as long as you find the right guy. The problem is they have to battle with other backups like Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, and Erik Ezukanma for playing time.

The Dolphins recently added Odell Beckham Jr. as WR3, which slides both Washingtons even further down the depth chart.

Miami may have been better served by adding more offensive line depth or addressing other holes in the roster with these two picks. That said, they were sixth- and seventh-round picks so it’s hard to get too critical. Late-round picks are always gambles, but it would have been nice to see Miami spread those picks to different positions.