The discussion of trading throughout the 2020 NFL Draft for the Miami Dolphins is predominantly centered around the prospect of trading up from the 5th overall selection to ensure the team’s ability to secure their quarterback of the future. But if the Dolphins are ultimately committed to staying put with the 5th pick and letting the quarterback situation fall to them, should the Dolphins not be considering a potential trade up scenario with their second 1st-round selection?
The Dolphins are currently slated to pick 18th in the 1st-round with their second pick — but this team could undoubtedly make a big splash and crash the early picks once again if they’re committed to targeting a few blue chip players.
Hypothetically, pretend the Dolphins stay put and land their quarterback of choice at 5. The Dolphins could feasibly see the draft unfold with Joe Burrow, Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and the top offensive tackle (one of Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas or Jedrick Wills) come off the board before selecting either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert.
With the quarterback hungry Chargers looming at 6, the other quarterback coming immediately off the board is a reasonable outcome to envision.
But what about the Carolina Panthers after that? This is a team that has openly admitted to their fanbase that the 2020 season will be one of rebuilding. For Dolphins fans, the writing is one the wall — Miami lived this experience in 2019. Carolina has no surplus of draft capital and would probably love the ideal of allocating extra draft picks to help build and shape this team in the image of new head coach Matt Rhule’s choosing.
According to the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, Miami’s 18th and 26th selections in this year’s draft add up to 1600 points — Carolina’s 7th overall selection is worth 1500.
The Dolphins, in a potential trade-up with Carolina, could then target LB Isaiah Simmons, rush LB K’Lavon Chaisson, their OT of choice or another prospect deemed worthy of such an aggressive move. Carolina gets the luxury of adding extra picks to help build out their roster as the team’s rebuild gets underway — and this team isn’t necessarily ready to add a top quarterback prospect anyway, so why not adopt the Dolphins’ methods and hoard assets to build for the future?
Would you be happy to walk away with two top-10 picks but nothing else in the 1st-round? It’s a question that we should at least be prepared to ask.
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