Grading the trade: The Dolphins get something for the smallest move

The Dolphins did move back in the 2026 NFL Draft, but it wasn’t a big step backwards.

The Miami Dolphins did end up trading down after all in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

But just barely.

The Dolphins found a trade partner in their draft neighbors, the Dallas Cowboys, and dropped down from No. 11 to No. 12. In return, the Dolphins added two fifth round picks, No. 177 and 180 overall.

Grade: A

Look, the trade down is nothing more than whether you would have preferred the team stand pat and draft Ohio State SAF Caleb Downs, who the Cowboys selected with their jump up to No. 11. And there’s a fair debate about that.

Instead, the Dolphins took Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 pick. If the plan was always to take Proctor, then great. The Dolphins added two Round 5 picks by moving just one spot down. The Rich Hill trade value chart gives the Dolphins a new gain there of four points. Ammo to the draft chest is obviously good.

But how well this trade works out ties into how well the two players involved play in their careers. And while it looks good now that the Dolphins added two picks and got their guy, the three or four years down the road will tell the story on that.