I'd love to be able to say categorically that the Dolphins have a focused approach on this rebuild. That they have a plan, and they are sticking with it. Unfortunately, I can't.
If you missed it, our team in the aqua and orange have been busy the last few days. They sent starting LT and 420 hero Laremy Tunsil, along with too-vocal WR Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans for two 1st round picks and a 2nd rounder. They also sent MLB Kiko Alonso to the Saints, whether he's able to find his way there in time for the start of the season is another story…Then cutdown day happened and the longest tenured player, Long Snapper John Denney, was thrown overboard after 14 seasons. Obviously, GM Chris Grier and Head Coach Brian Flores have decided to blow the whole team up and get as many picks as they can in the next two drafts. That's a fine approach and had that been their approach since day one, I'd be thrilled. But it hasn’t. At some point over the last 3 months they decided to blow it all up. They pulled a pivot.
If you were able to get two 1st round picks for Tunsill and Stills, you don’t think you could've received at least that much for Xavien Howard? Absolutely. Package him with DeVante or Minkah and done deal. Of course, you can’t do that now because the Brain Trust decided to make him the highest paid CB in the league in May. At the time we all loved it! Finally, the Dolphins are extending their really good young players and not letting them leave. Now, it's obvious to me, something changed.
So, what changed? Josh Rosen. They felt good about grabbing him for a 2nd, they thought he was going to be the guy and they wouldn’t need a QB in the draft. They now realize they were wrong. Unfortunately for Xavien, he's going to be a pro bowl CB on a team that is irrelevant for the remainder of his prime. As for Grier/Flores, they better hope they nail 75% of those picks or they will both be overboard as well…