The Miami Dolphins Drafts of the Last 10 Years: 2022

Leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, we're taking a look at each of the Miami Dolphins' past 10 drafts with an analysis of how each pick panned out, a grade for all those picks, players the team missed, and an overall grade for the draft class.

The grades will be determined on the basis of how the player's NFL career turned out, not how each did with the Dolphins. Picks also are curved on a grade, where more was expected of a first-round pick than, say, a fourth-round pick, as well as in relation to who else the Dolphins could have selected who was available.

We wrap up the series with the 2022 draft, and being that we're only one year removed from it, the final grade could only be "incomplete."

THE 2022 DOLPHINS DRAFT PICKS

Round 3 — LB Channing Tindall, Georgia (102nd overall)

Round 4 — WR Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech (125th)

Round 7 — LB Cameron Goode, California (224th)

Round 7 — QB Skylar Thompson, Kansas State (247th)

BREAKING DOWN EACH PICK

-- Channing Tindall: Fresh off Georgia's national championship team of 2021, Tindall came in as a fast linebacker who at the very least could help on special teams early on. That's how it played out for Tindall, who wasn't able to see the field on defense despite that unit having an up-and-down season.  Who the Dolphins could have had: Only three players were selected after Tindall in Round 3 last year, but Leo Chenal wound up started eight games on defense for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.. Grade: Inc. (but not off to a great start)

-- Erik Ezukanma: A product of wide receivers coach Wes Welker's alma mater, Ezukanma came in as good-sized receiver with a knack for making contested catches and he raised expectations with a really good preseason performance. And then he disappeared. Week after week, Ezukanma was inactive, as the Dolphins were bringing up different receivers from the practice squad to compensate for injuries. Full understanding of the offense was the reason Ezukanma wasn't able to make any kind of contribution, so 2023 will be a big season for him. Who the Dolphins could have had: Unlike the third round, there were several fourth-rounders who made contributions as rookies, such as 49ers guard Spencer Burford, Bengals guard Cordell Volson, Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs and Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. Grade: Inc. (but not off to a great start)

-- Cameron Goode: The seventh-round pick had his moments during training camp and the preseason but couldn't find his way onto the 53-man roster. He'll get another shot this summer, though the Dolphins have a lot of players he'll have to beat out. Who the Dolphins could have had: Disregarding Brock Purdy for the moment (we'll get to him soon), two seventh-round picks made significant contributions as rookies and, of course, both played for the Chiefs — running back Isaiah Pacheco and defensive back Jaylen Watson. Grade: Inc. (but not looking good)

-- Skylar Thompson: It's probably not a stretch to suggest that Thompson surprised most observers by merely making the 53-man roster after he gave the Dolphins no choice but to keep him because he wouldn't have cleared waivers to be re-signed to the practice squad. After shining in the preseason, Thompson didn't enjoy nearly as much success in the regular season or in the playoff game at Buffalo when he was forced to start, but we need to remember we're talking about a rookie seventh-round pick. Who the Dolphins could have had: Yes, Thompson's performance was blown away by that of Purdy, the last pick in the entire draft, but we also need to realize the 49ers were a lot more complete team than the Dolphins in 2022. The key question here is whether Purdy would have had the same success with the Dolphins and whether Thompson would have equaled what Purdy did with the 49ers. Even if Purdy indeed would have been the better choice, it's not like the Dolphins really messed up here. Grade: B

2022 DOLPHINS DRAFT GRADE

As we mentioned earlier, it's impossible to give a fair grade here because players deserve the time to develop. If we were to be harsh and assign a grade for the sake of doing, it obviously wouldn't be a good one considering the Dolphins got so little out of their first two picks.

Grade: Inc.

ADDITIONAL READING:

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2013 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2014 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2015 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2016 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2017 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2018 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2019 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2020 DRAFT

-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2021 DRAFT