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Here are the 10 best draft picks in Miami Dolphins history, taking into account each man's contributions to the organization weighed against where they were selected:
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No, you won’t find Shula’s name on any official list of players drafted by the Dolphins. The hint of what went down when Shula left the Baltimore Colts to coach the Dolphins comes in a line listing Miami’s first-round pick in 1971: “TO BALTIMORE for Don Shula (22).” The Dolphins were penalized by the NFL for contacting Shula while he was under contract with the Colts. The Colts used the pick they received from Miami to select running back Don McCauley. “I always say, ‘Who got the better deal?’ ” McCauley once joked to The Post. “It was nice to be a part of history, although they did go 17-0. … I would have loved to have played for coach Shula.”
The guy you surely expected to see atop this list. You know why. No need to cite stats, other than to remind you he was taken 27th overall.
Third-rounder out of Akron. Nobody made a big deal of this pick at the time. “Something of a project,” one report said. At least it was correct about Taylor being “something.” Quite something, as we now know.
Jimmy Johnson immediately made him a starter, warning the kid from Texas he better not let him down. Many years later, J.J. was knocking on Thomas’ door once more, only this time to inform him he’d be joining J.J. and J.T. in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Shula was once asked if he had an inkling Clayton might turn out to be as good as he did (a Hall of Fame candidate, in fact). “When you take somebody that late in the draft, obviously you don’t have great convictions about him. Otherwise, you would have taken him a lot earlier,” Shula said.
He was a character who could drive Shula nuts. He also was MVP of the Super Bowl to complete The Perfect Season.
Just as when you see Jason Taylor’s name, you’re used to seeing Zach Thomas’ as well, when you see Jake Scott, Dick Anderson can’t be too far behind. Scott and Anderson formed the best safety tandem in Dolphins history, and one of the best and smartest in NFL history.
Had four seasons with double-digit sacks. Nobody in any of the previous eight rounds of the draft saw this coming?
Worthy successor to Dolphins’ lineage of great middle linebackers following Nick Buoniconti and Zach Thomas.
Hall of Fame center who managed to deal with fearsome Chicago Bears front during that classic Monday night win in 1983 despite essentially playing the game with one useful arm.
WR Anthony Carter* (Round 12, 1983), WR Howard Twilley (Round 12, 1966), CB Xavien Howard (Round 2, 2016), RB Jim Kiick (Round 5, 1968), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Round 5, 2019), S Reshad Jones (Round 5c, 2010), LB Bryan Cox (Round 5a, 1991), DE Jeff Cross (Round 9, 1988), P Reggie Roby (Round 6, 1983), K Jason Sanders (Round 7, 2018), DE Doug Betters (Round 6, 1978), RB Mercury Morris (Round 3, 1969).
* Carter, from Suncoast High, was a shrewd gamble since he was in the USFL at the time. Carter eventually did land in the NFL, but it was with the Minnesota Vikings after Miami traded away his rights a bit too early. Dolphins receiver Mark Duper once said he doubted Shula would have been able to field a receiving trio of Duper-Mark Clayton-Carter and instead would have traded one of them. But add Marino’s right arm to the mix and the results would have been staggering.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at [email protected].Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' draft picks history: Who are Miami's 10 best selections?
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Miami Dolphins re-sign Liam Eichenberg, but why? What about investing in OL? | Habib
1. Don Shula (Round 1, 1971)
No, you won’t find Shula’s name on any official list of players drafted by the Dolphins. The hint of what went down when Shula left the Baltimore Colts to coach the Dolphins comes in a line listing Miami’s first-round pick in 1971: “TO BALTIMORE for Don Shula (22).” The Dolphins were penalized by the NFL for contacting Shula while he was under contract with the Colts. The Colts used the pick they received from Miami to select running back Don McCauley. “I always say, ‘Who got the better deal?’ ” McCauley once joked to The Post. “It was nice to be a part of history, although they did go 17-0. … I would have loved to have played for coach Shula.”
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2. QB Dan Marino (Round 1, 1983)
The guy you surely expected to see atop this list. You know why. No need to cite stats, other than to remind you he was taken 27th overall.
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3. DE Jason Taylor (Round 3a, 1997)
Third-rounder out of Akron. Nobody made a big deal of this pick at the time. “Something of a project,” one report said. At least it was correct about Taylor being “something.” Quite something, as we now know.
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4. LB Zach Thomas (Round 5c, 1996)
Jimmy Johnson immediately made him a starter, warning the kid from Texas he better not let him down. Many years later, J.J. was knocking on Thomas’ door once more, only this time to inform him he’d be joining J.J. and J.T. in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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5. WR Mark Clayton (Round 8, 1983)
Shula was once asked if he had an inkling Clayton might turn out to be as good as he did (a Hall of Fame candidate, in fact). “When you take somebody that late in the draft, obviously you don’t have great convictions about him. Otherwise, you would have taken him a lot earlier,” Shula said.
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6. S Jake Scott (Round 7, 1970)
He was a character who could drive Shula nuts. He also was MVP of the Super Bowl to complete The Perfect Season.
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7. S Dick Anderson (Round 3b, 1973)
Just as when you see Jason Taylor’s name, you’re used to seeing Zach Thomas’ as well, when you see Jake Scott, Dick Anderson can’t be too far behind. Scott and Anderson formed the best safety tandem in Dolphins history, and one of the best and smartest in NFL history.
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8. DE Vern Den Herder (Round 9, 1971)
Had four seasons with double-digit sacks. Nobody in any of the previous eight rounds of the draft saw this coming?
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9. LB John Offerdahl (Round 2b, 1986)
Worthy successor to Dolphins’ lineage of great middle linebackers following Nick Buoniconti and Zach Thomas.
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10. C Dwight Stephenson (Round 2, 1980)
Hall of Fame center who managed to deal with fearsome Chicago Bears front during that classic Monday night win in 1983 despite essentially playing the game with one useful arm.
Honorable mention
WR Anthony Carter* (Round 12, 1983), WR Howard Twilley (Round 12, 1966), CB Xavien Howard (Round 2, 2016), RB Jim Kiick (Round 5, 1968), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Round 5, 2019), S Reshad Jones (Round 5c, 2010), LB Bryan Cox (Round 5a, 1991), DE Jeff Cross (Round 9, 1988), P Reggie Roby (Round 6, 1983), K Jason Sanders (Round 7, 2018), DE Doug Betters (Round 6, 1978), RB Mercury Morris (Round 3, 1969).
* Carter, from Suncoast High, was a shrewd gamble since he was in the USFL at the time. Carter eventually did land in the NFL, but it was with the Minnesota Vikings after Miami traded away his rights a bit too early. Dolphins receiver Mark Duper once said he doubted Shula would have been able to field a receiving trio of Duper-Mark Clayton-Carter and instead would have traded one of them. But add Marino’s right arm to the mix and the results would have been staggering.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at [email protected].Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
Click here to subscribe.
Miami Dolphins suddenly patient. But do they have much choice? | Habib
NFL pay scale exploding, but Miami Dolphins must learn to say no | Habib
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' draft picks history: Who are Miami's 10 best selections?
Continue reading...
