Latest On Dolphins’ QB Plans
No team has been linked to more draft routes than the Dolphins, who hold three first-round picks and have been eyeing the 2020 draft’s quarterbacks for over a year. They have been busy on draft day thus far, being connected to the No. 3 and No. 1 picks.
Rumored to be negotiating a deal with the Lions to move up from No. 5 to No. 3, the Dolphins would take a tackle if they can complete that deal. However, part 2 of that swap may include a quarterback. The Dolphins have discussed the merits of taking a tackle with the first of their three first-round picks and then Jordan Love later in Round 1, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
While Thursday started with an increased chance the Dolphins and Lions would swap picks, Jaguars interest in the No. 3 selection emerged this afternoon. Of course, the Lions could also be hoping this entices the Dolphins to increase their offer for the pick.
Love has garnered internal support inside Dolphins headquarters (and in various Miami staffers’ in-home war rooms) for months. Before the NFL nixed pre-draft visits, the Dolphins brought the Utah State prospect in for one.
Viewed as closer to a boom-or-bust prospect, Love landed on draft radars with a dominant 2018 season but led Division I-FBS with 17 interceptions last season. Eschewing a possible Tua Tagovailoa pick at No. 3 in hopes of either drafting Love at No. 18 or moving up from 18 to draft him would be a risk. But the Dolphins have been scouting quarterbacks for many months.
Tagovailoa remains the quarterback they’ve been most connected to, with the Justin Herbert buzz having died down. We’ll find out soon enough if the Dolphins plan to execute this daring strategy.
NFL Draft Rumors: Lions, 49ers, Giants
The Lions (No. 3) and 49ers (Nos. 13 and 31) appear to be the most aggressive teams when it comes to trading down, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports hears (via Twitter). He also hears that the Lions aren’t getting much in the way of enticing offers, whereas the Niners could have possibilities for both picks.
We know that the Dolphins want Detroit’s No. 3, but they’re trying to pry it loose without sacrificing their No. 5 pick. That could mean a package including their two other first-round picks, plus more from their significant stockpile. The Lions, understandably, are not jumping at any offers that take them out of the Top 5.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ pick at No. 13 could fetch a big haul, especially if they hold until this evening and wait for one of this year’s stud wide receivers to fall.
Here’s more from Robinson, with all links going to Twitter:
- There’s talk of the Dolphins eyeing an offensive tackle with their No. 5 pick, but the teams surrounding them in the draft order don’t believe that’s the case (link). Most of Robinson’s sources seem to think that pick is destined for Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa. No matter what happens at #5, you can expect Miami to target tackles early on, especially since free agent pickup Ereck Flowers has been slotted for the interior.
- Robinson isn’t sure what the Dolphins are going to do (same goes for everyone outside of their front office), but he senses that the Chargers are higher on Herbert than Tagovailoa (link). Robinson hears they like his makeup – Herbert has a cannon for an arm – and they’re skittish about Tagovailoa’s surgically-repaired hip. For what it’s worth, the Dolphins passed the Alabama star on his physical at the combine in February.
- Assuming the Giants stay at No. 4, Robinson believes the conversation is down to Jedrick Wills Jr. and Tristan Wirfs (link). Some evaluators think Wirfs is better suited for guard, but the Giants believe that can be a strong tackle at the pro level.
- With the draft drawing near, the Jaguars still aren’t getting any good bites on running back Leonard Fournette or defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (link). The Jags have been shopping Fournette for more than a month now; they might have scale back their asking price if they want to get a deal done. The Ngakoue market also seems pretty weak, though that has more to do with his contract demands. The Raiders touched base with the Jags on the franchise-tagged defensive end this week, but nothing’s brewing at the moment.
Dolphins Still Pushing For Bengals’ No. 1 Pick
The Dolphins are hoping to acquire the Lions’ No. 3 choice and package it with their own No. 5 for the Bengals’ first overall pick, Mike Florio of PFT hears. The Lions have told the Dolphins that they won’t give up the No. 3 pick without the No. 5 pick in the package, but Miami GM Chris Grier seems to think they can be swayed. 
Of course, even if Grier can swing that deal with Detroit, he still has to convince the Bengals to part with the No. 1 pick and pass on Joe Burrow. The Bengals say that’s not happening. So far, the Bengals have laughed off every offer, but it’s hard to imagine them hanging up on a team offering two Top-5 picks. At minimum, it’s something that they’d have to consider.
Burrow, by all accounts, is the Bengals’ favorite QB by a mile. But, with Nos. 3 and 5, they could tap their second-favorite passer and one of this year’s elite tackles. Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert would likely be available for them with the third pick. Then, they’d probably have at least three of this year’s top four tackles, if not the whole bunch, available to them. Tua/Herbert + Jedrick Wills/Tristan Wirfs/Andrew Thomas/Mekhi Becton would be a pretty excellent haul by any measure.
It remains to be seen what else Miami would have to give up in order to convince Cincinnati to forego the right to draft Burrow, and one wonders if the team’s No. 18 or No. 26 selections — at least one of which would presumably have to go to Detroit in this scenario — would also be in play. For a rebuilding outfit that has a lot of needs to fill and that has spent a long time stockpiling premium draft capital, that would be an exceedingly steep price to pay.
On the other hand, franchise QBs don’t grow on trees, and not only does Burrow have limitless potential, he has fewer red flags than Tua and Herbert. Though he may have benefited from LSU’s stacked roster in 2019, his otherworldly Heisman-winning campaign, which featured a 76.3% completion rate, 5,671 passing yards, and 60 passing TDs, make Burrow a tantalizing prospect.
If a team knew that a player would turn out to be Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc., that team would have no issues trading away its entire draft haul in a given year to draft such a player, regardless of how rich that haul might be. And while no prospect is really a sure thing, if the Dolphins are convinced that Burrow is a future Hall-of-Famer — and they seem pretty sure — then it would be hard to fault them for swinging this kind of deal (at least not until a couple years have passed).
Miami hasn’t been able to make any progress on talks yet, but deadlines spur action, and the NFL Draft is just hours away.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Latest On Dolphins’ Draft Plans
We heard earlier this morning that the Dolphins and Lions are expecting to execute a trade that will allow Miami to jump up to the No. 3 overall selection while shipping the No. 5 pick to Detroit. The ‘Fins had hoped to keep their No. 5 pick and trade from their other draft assets, but Lions GM Bob Quinn isn’t biting on that.
So if the trade is consummated, it’s unclear what other draft picks will be heading to Motown. Though recent buzz has suggested that the Dolphins will take Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa with their No.5 selection if they don’t engineer a trade-up, the team will likely grab a left tackle if it lands the No. 3 pick. After all, the Giants, who hold the No. 4 overall selection, are also in the LT market, and a move to No. 3 would allow the Dolphins to select the player of their choice at that position.
But that would leave the club with a notable vacancy at QB. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, there are still execs and scouts within the Dolphins’ front office that like Oregon passer Justin Herbert, so if Miami stays put at No. 5, Herbert can’t be ruled out. And if he is still on the board when the Dolphins are on the clock with the No. 18 overall pick — and if they haven’t picked a different QB by then — Herbert obviously becomes even more of a possibility.
In addition to QB and LT, the Dolphins have plenty of other needs to fill. And while WR is not necessarily the most pressing of those needs, a young receiving talent can’t be ruled out in the bottom of the first round. Baylor wideout Denzel Mims could still be available when the team makes its No. 26 overall selection — assuming, of course, it hasn’t been traded — and a Baylor football official tells Jackson that the Dolphins “really like” the raw but talented prospect.
Per Jackson, Miami has also shown interest in UVA wide receiver Hasise Dubois, Auburn safety Daniel Thomas, and Florida edge defender Jonathan Greenard.
Bengals Reject Dolphins’ Offer For No. 1 Pick
The Dolphins have called the Bengals on multiple occasions to inquire on the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Bengals told the Dolphins “in no uncertain terms” that they would not give up the top choice. 
No surprises on either end here. The Bengals have been laser-focused on tapping Joe Burrow as their quarterback of the future and the Dolphins probably see him as the best passer in this year’s class as well. The Dolphins’ love affair with the LSU star has been a poorly-kept secret throughout the year and they’ve been pondering a move up to No. 1 since January.
The Bengals, meanwhile, have been hitting the b-button on teams asking about the pick. Unless they’re playing really, really, really hard to get, Burrow to the Bengals is a done deal.
Unable to climb to No. 1, the Dolphins may move up to No. 3 via trade with the Lions. Initially, they tried to make the move without sacrificing their No. 5 pick, but that doesn’t seem to be on the table.
After a strong 2018 season, Burrow shattered all expectations with a 76.3% completion rate, 5,671 passing yards, and 60 (!) touchdowns through the air. He also added another five rushing TDs for good measure.
Lions Expect To Trade For Dolphins’ No. 5 Pick
The Lions are “making plans for having the No. 5” pick in tonight’s draft, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter) hears. The Dolphins own that choice and they’ve been discussing a potential trade for the last few days.
At one point, the Dolphins were hoping to land the Lions’ No. 3 overall pick without sacrificing No. 5. Instead, they wanted to move up the board by dealing from the rest of their stockpile, which includes the Nos. 18 and 26 picks, plus a pair of Round 2 picks. No dice, it seems. If the Dolphins are to acquire Detroit’s No. 3 pick, they’ll have to cough up their own No. 5.
Had the Dolphins landed No. 3 and kept No. 5, they could have used those picks to address their two biggest needs at quarterback and tackle; not necessarily in that order, but probably in that order. If they send the No. 5 pick to Detroit, they could go either way at No. 3, where Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert should both be available. After weeks of Herbert talk, the Dolphins are now said to be eyeing the Alabama star.
Trade or no trade, the Dolphins will also have to address their tackle situation early in the draft. This year’s top tackles include Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton.
Dolphins Hoping To Acquire No. 3 Pick Without Trading No. 5?
Linked to quarterbacks at No. 5 throughout the pre-draft process (and connected to a 2020 first-round passer before the 2019 draft), the Dolphins are now believed to have a top-five tackle in sight. A report earlier Wednesday indicated Miami is interested in moving up to No. 3 for a tackle. However, the Dolphins are not conceding that they will have to give up their No. 5 pick to do so.
Instead of dealing the fifth overall pick to move up for the third, the Dolphins are trying to work out a deal that will allow them to acquire No. 3 and keep No. 5, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. Only one team in the past 19 years — the 2018 Browns — has made two top-five picks in the same draft.
The Dolphins have spoken with the Lions about a move. Miami signed ex-top-10 tackle Ereck Flowers but will play him at guard; the team features a major need at tackle. Climbing to No. 3 would put the Dolphins in position to draft the best one — ahead of the likely tackle-seeking Giants at No. 4. The Dolphins have an interesting ammo arsenal to try and obtain two top-five picks, holding the Nos. 18 and 26 selections and two second-round choices.
Acquiring the No. 3 pick without giving up No. 5 would open the door to the Dolphins drafting a tackle and a quarterback. The latest out of Miami has pointed back to Tua Tagovailoa — after a stream of Justin Herbert buzz. The Dolphins taking a tackle at 3, however, opens the door to the Giants then holding an auction for any team wanting to climb ahead of Miami’s No. 5 pick to land Tagovailoa.
In addition to eyeing left tackles atop the draft, the Dolphins are interested in a right tackle. Dolphins GM Chris Grier likes Andrew Thomas at left tackle and his ex-Georgia teammate, Isaiah Wilson, Jackson adds. Wilson is viewed as a second-round-level talent.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/22/20
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Colin Thompson (XFL)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed exclusive rights free agent tender: LB Trent Harris
Dolphins Rumors: Herbert, Tagovailoa, Thuney
With ~24 hours to go until the NFL Draft, the Dolphins have succeeded in their mission to confuse everyone in the football world. Here’s the latest on what the Dolphins might be thinking at No. 5, plus more from South Beach:
- If the Dolphins choose anyone other than quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick, it’ll come as a surprise to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington based on what he’s been hearing (Twitter link). This, of course, comes after weeks of reports that the Dolphins have shifted their attention to Oregon’s Justin Herbert, who perhaps offers a higher floor and lower ceiling at QB. They’ve also spoken with the Lions about No. 3 with interest in trading up for an offensive tackle.
- Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald recently speculated that the Dolphins could explore a trade for Patriots offensive lineman Joe Thuney. Later on, a Dolphins source confirmed to Salguero that they are indeed fans. It could be a situation to keep an eye on – the Patriots have lots of holes to fill, the Dolphins could use the help up front, and they’ve got the draft capital to get a deal done. Thuney is set to play on the franchise tag this year, which means that the ‘Fins – or any other club with interest – would have to consider the cost of a long-term deal.
- As we noted earlier today, Salguero also hears that the Dolphins passed Tagovailoa on his physical in February.
Dolphins Considering Move To No. 3 Overall For OT
The Dolphins have contacted teams ahead of them in the draft order about a potential move up the board, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Instead of targeting a quarterback, however, Miami would be looking at an offensive tackle. The Dolphins — who currently hold the fifth overall selection — have spoken with the Lions about acquiring the No. 3 pick, per RapSheet.
The 2020 draft class contains at least four offensive tackle prospects who are expected to come off the board relatively early in the first round. In some order, most observers peg the top-four OTs as Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton.
Given that the Bengals and Redskins are almost assuredly taking Joe Burrow and Chase Young with pick Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, the Dolphins should be able to get one of those four tackles at No. 5 without making a move. But if they have their eye on a specific tackle, a trade up could potentially make sense.
Miami is in need of help at tackle after trading former first-rounder Laremy Tunsil to the Texans last year. The Tunsil deal allowed the Dolphins to acquire a haul of draft capital from Houston, but also left them short at a critical offensive position.
If Miami doesn’t end trade up, or doesn’t take a tackle at No. 5, there are still options for them further down the board. Houston’s Josh Jones, USC’s Austin Jackson, Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland, and Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson are also considered possible first-round selections.