MIAMI GARDENS \u2014 The honeymoon is over for Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley. Time flies.<\/p>\n
But the rebuild is still steaming ahead at full speed, and all things considered, it\u2019s still looking good. That\u2019s significant, and that\u2019s what matters most.<\/p>\n
With the Dolphins\u2019 befuddling No. 12 pick<\/a> of the NFL draft on Thursday \u2014 Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor<\/a> \u2014 Sullivan and Hafley brought an abrupt end to the rollicking fun and sky-high optimism they\u2019d ushered in with their hires in January.<\/p>\n Sullivan and Hafley, who traded back with Dallas from No. 11 to No. 12, and later traded up with San Francisco from No. 30 to No. 27, regained a measure of credibility by selecting San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson<\/a> at No. 27.<\/p>\n However, a number of fans (we don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s the majority) were frustrated that the Dolphins didn\u2019t select the hometown kid, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.<\/a>, with the No. 12 pick. He went No. 15 to Tampa Bay. Other fans were frustrated that the Dolphins didn\u2019t stay at No. 11, where they could have selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bit of a momentum-killer for the rebuild and the good vibes that Sullivan and Hafley were sending.<\/p>\n And to be honest, I\u2019m a bit skeptical of Miami\u2019s two biggest moves so far \u2014 quarterback Malik Willis, their big free agent signee, and Proctor, the new regime\u2019s first draft pick<\/a>.<\/p>\n But I still have faith in Sullivan and Hafley. And I still have faith in the rebuild. Perhaps this is only a speed bump.<\/p>\n If nothing else, one draft pick is far from the bottom line with the Dolphins.<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s first round of the NFL draft continued the massive changes that are going on for the Dolphins organization.<\/p>\n The Dolphins\u2019 rebuild is deep and thorough, perhaps the most thorough of any South Florida sports team in the past three decades. Well, a team still trying to win (which excludes the 1998 world champion Florida Marlins).<\/p>\n And from all indications, the rebuild, at this early stage, is working.<\/p>\n The Dolphins cleaned house among the GM (Chris Grier), assistant GM (Marvin Allen), the top two people in player personnel (Anthony Hunt and Adam Engroff), the coach (Mike McDaniel), most of the coaching staff, the quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa), the top two wide receivers (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) and the top two edge rushers (Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips).<\/p>\n That\u2019s many of the most visible and high-profile people in the organization.<\/p>\n But the rebuild doesn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins, Furones on Miami\u2019s first-round picks | VIDEO<\/a><\/p>\n For those who complained that Dolphins owner Steve Ross has always listened to the wrong people, consider the change that\u2019s happening now.<\/p>\n Ross, who previously listened to a NFL executive Carl Peterson, the former Kansas City president and GM, as his guiding voice, and then football people (Jeff Ireland, Dennis Hickey, Mike Tannenbaum and Grier), has changed course.<\/p>\n Ross is now listening to non-front office people in Troy Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback and NFL analyst, and Daniel Sillman, Ross\u2019 son-in-law and co-founder and executive chairman of Ross\u2019 Relevent Sports company.<\/p>\n Credit Ross for making necessary changes. This is a good thing.<\/p>\n Ross wants to win. Badly. Make no mistake about that.<\/p>\n