Getty
The Dolphins are considering trading down in the NFL Draft
The Miami Dolphins are in need of an infusion of talent on their roster. With 29 players set to hit free agency in March, Miami must figure out ways to replenish its team for 2026. The Dolphins have the fourth-least cap space among teams in the NFL, which means they may have to get creative this offseason.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan outlined the vision he has for the Dolphins, saying, “We’re going to draft and develop and retain our own.” He added, “It’s important to us that we raise our own because that’s culture, right? We don’t want a team full of mercenaries. That creates problems on multiple levels… But then within that, it’s who you infuse into that locker room. We want people who love football, who want to be the best that they can be, who are selfless, who are good teammates.”
In April, Sullivan will have his first NFL Draft as a general manager, and a new report by The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson has detailed a possible strategy Sullivan may adopt.
Miami Dolphins May Trade Down in NFL Draft
Regarding what the Dolphins will do in the draft, Jackson wrote, “Two people who have spoken to the new Dolphins management said maximizing and collecting draft picks will be a priority for Sullivan and cautioned us not to be surprised if the team trades down in any of the early rounds to accumulate more picks.
To Sullivan, draft picks are gold, an associate emphasized. There could be potential to add more picks with trades of a few veterans who aren’t in the long-term plans.”
The Dolphins currently hold the No. 11 overall selection in the NFL Draft. That selection was last traded in the 2024 NFL Draft when the Vikings traded up to the No. 10 slot. The last time a team with the 11th overall selection traded down was when the Washington Commanders did so in the 2022 NFL Draft, as they received first-, third-, and fourth-round draft picks from the Saints.
Miami has eight draft selections in the upcoming draft, with three third-round picks. A trade down in the first or second round could result in the Dolphins adding double-digit rookies in this draft class.
Potential Draft Picks
Of course, even if Miami’s intentions are to trade away their draft pick, they need a trade partner in order to make it work. If a trade is not accomplished, the team has a variety of players they could select with their first pick.
One option that NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah outlined for the Dolphins in his latest mock draft was selecting safety Caleb Downs out of Ohio State. Jeremiah wrote, “Downs has the versatility to play multiple spots, much like his teammate — in this scenario — Minkah Fitzpatrick. Downs’ football intelligence and leadership are off the charts. Miami has to improve a defense that ranked 24th in scoring and 32nd in opponent completion percentage.”
Jeremiah compared Downs to Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, it is unlikely the two would be teammates even if Miami drafted Downs. Fitzpatrick is one of those veterans who could be traded in order for the Dolphins to increase their draft picks.
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
More Heavy on Dolphins
Loading more stories