Dolphins Considering Trading Down Again

Between the Laremy Tunsil trade and the recent deal with the 49ers, the Dolphins have accumulated their share of high-value draft picks. GM Chris Grier may not be done.

The Dolphins, who traded down from No. 3 to No. 12 before moving back up, are now receiving calls for their No. 6 overall pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. They are considering moving down again, per Rapoport.

This draft could feature one or two QB-related firsts — the first to see four straight passer picks atop the event and/or the first to have five QBs go in the top 10 — and certain teams who are interested in drafting one of this year’s top passing prospects are not currently in range to acquire one. In addition to the Falcons, the Dolphins appear open to being a vehicle for another team to trade up for a quarterback.

[RELATED: Falcons Open To All Options With No. 4 Pick]

The Patriots, Washington and the Bears — at Nos. 15, 19 and 20, respectively — have been linked to possible trade-ups. Washington and Chicago more so than New England. But with the Broncos sitting at No. 9 and viewed by some teams as a stealth quarterback suitor, teams may be aiming to move in front of them.

It would be unlikely if the Dolphins traded the pick within the division, however, so the Pats emulating the 49ers’ nine-spot move is difficult to foresee. The Broncos also may be interested in moving up three spots, should they suspect one of the QB-seeking teams will move in front of them. All this would create a market for another Dolphins move.

Miami holds two first-round picks this year and is set to have two in 2023. Teams are expecting Grier to draft a skill-position talent at No. 6, Peter King of NBC Sports notes. But it is possible the top two in this year’s draft are gone by the time the Dolphins’ No. 6 pick arrives. The Falcons have been heavily linked to Kyle Pitts at 4, and buzz about the Bengals reuniting Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase — a prospect that helped induce the Eagles to trade their No. 6 pick to the Dolphins — at 5 is building. Both of this year’s Alabama wideout talents (DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle) may be available a bit later than 6, but likely not too much later, should Grier receive an offer to move slightly down the board.

Before the 49ers gave up a bounty for the third pick, Grier obtained two first-rounders and change for Tunsil and collected another Round 1 choice for Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins are a team to watch for acquire more first-round capital.

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