Draft History: Dolphins best picks play key roles in Super Bowl success
Draft History: Dolphins best picks play key roles in Super Bowl success
The Miami Dolphins were one of the most successful teams in the first decade after the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, and that is reflected in the list of the franchise’s best draft picks. The worst list was a little tougher because Miami hardly ever has a high pick (only 13 top 10 picks since 1966), although their inaugural draft was particularly bad.
BEST
10. Richmond Webb, T (Round 1, Pick 9 in 1990) - The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro started 163 games in 11 seasons with the Dolphins. Although Miami reached the postseason eight times during Webb’s tenure, the club only got to the AFC Championship Game once (a 29-10 loss to the Bills in 1992).
9. Mark Duper, WR (Round 2, Pick 52 in 1982) - One half of the greatest wide receiving duo in team history, Duper turned his second-round selection into a team-record 8,869 yards to go along with 59 touchdowns. “Super” Duper had four 1,000-yard seasons and was selected to three Pro Bowls. He torched the Steelers for 148 yards and two scores in the 1984 AFC Championship Game, helping Miami reach Super Bowl XIX.
8. Bob Griese, QB (Round 1, Pick 4 in 1967) - The Hall of Famer had the second-most passing yards and second-most Pro Bowl selections in team history (the guy who ranks ahead of him on both lists appears later). Over 14 seasons, Griese was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro who threw for 25,092 yards and 192 touchdowns. More impressive was his leadership in taking Miami to three straight Super Bowls. The Dolphins won the last two, including the NFL’s only perfect season in the Super Bowl era, capped off with a 14-7 win over the Redskins in Super Bowl VII.
7. Larry Csonka, RB (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1968) - While the 1980s Dolphins had success through the air, the team from the previous decade went to three Super Bowls thanks to its strong running game, led by Csonka and two other Miami draft picks, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick. Csonka is the club’s all-time leading rusher with 6,737 yards and 53 touchdowns in eight seasons. The Hall of Famer nicknamed “Sundance Kid” was selected to five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. He had 112 yards in the perfection-clinching game against the Redskins and earned MVP honors after rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-7 win over the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII.
6. Dwight Stephenson, C (Round 2, Pick 48 in 1980) - Despite retiring after eight seasons due to a left knee injury, Stephenson was recognized as one of the premier players at his position during the 1980s. The Hall of Famer made the Pro Bowl in his final five seasons and was an All-Pro his last four. Stephenson started in Super Bowls XVII and XIX, and he was all the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1985.
5. Jake Scott, S (Round 7, Pick 159 in 1970) - He spent six seasons in Miami and was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro while starring both on defense and as a punt returner. Scott is the team’s all-time leader with 35 regular-season interceptions, and he had four more in the playoffs. He was named MVP of Super Bowl VII after his two picks helped preserve a 14-7 win over the Redskins and clinch a perfect season. Scott also tops the Dolphins all-time list with 1,330 punt return yards.
4. Mark Clayton, WR (Round 8, Pick 223 in 1993) - Clayton’s 8,643 yards are a close second behind Duper, and his 81 touchdowns rank first in team history. The five-time Pro-Bowler had five 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL in receiving scores twice (18 in 1984 and 14 in 1988). He had two touchdowns in the 1984 AFC playoffs and added six receptions for 92 yards in a loss to the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.
3. Zach Thomas, LB (Round 5, Pick 154 in 1996) - A true steal in the fifth round, Thomas was selected to seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams. He is Miami’s all-time leader with 1,734 tackles and 1,107 solo stops. Thomas went over 100 tackles 10 times in 12 seasons with the Dolphins, and he led the league twice. He also had 17 interceptions (with four scores), 19½ sacks and 34 passes defended.
2. Jason Taylor, DE (Round 3, Pick 73 in 1997) - While Thomas was keyed in on the ball, Taylor tracked down opposing quarterbacks. The Hall of Famer is the Dolphins all-time leader with 131 sacks in 13 seasons, including six seasons with 10 or more and a league-leading 18½ in 2002. Thomas’ accolades include six Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro nods, the 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2006 after registering 13½ sacks, 62 tackles, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) and a league-high nine forced fumbles.
1. Dan Marino, QB (Round 1, Pick 27 in 1983) - As noted before, Marino tops the team list with 61,361 yards, 420 touchdowns, and nine Pro Bowl selections. The Hall of Famer and three-time All-Pro set league records in 1984, throwing for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns while earning MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors in just his second season. He went on to lead the NFL in yards five times and touchdowns three straight years, and he passed for more than 3,000 yards an incredible 13 times in 17 seasons. Marino threw for 421 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-28 win over the Steelers in the 1984 AFC Championship Game, then followed it with a 318-yard performance against the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. Marino won the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1998 and retired the following year.
WORST
10. David Overstreet, RB (Round 1, Pick 13 in 1981) - Overstreet showed promise after his time at Oklahoma, but a contract dispute led him to Canada, where he was Montreal’s top rookie in 1981. After an injury-plagued year for a bad team, Overstreet returned to Miami in 1983, where he ran for 392 yards as the third option behind Tony Nathan and Andra Franklin. The following June, tragedy struck Overstreet as he was driving in Texas. He died when his car swerved off the road and into a service station, causing the gasoline pumps to explode. The Dolphins wore a number 20 decal on their helmets as a tribute during their stellar 1984 season.
9. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Round 1, Pick 11 in 2018) - Fitzpatrick has shown quite a bit of talent in his young career, but he is on this list because the Dolphins gave up on him way too soon. Fitzpatrick started 11 games as a rookie, registering two interceptions, 80 tackles and nine passes defended. He started the first two games in 2019, making 11 tackles and recovering a Sony Michel fumble during a game against the Patriots. However, Miami was outscored, 102-10, in those contests and Fitzpatrick had enough. He requested and received a trade to the Steelers in mid-September that brought back a 2020 first-round pick, then made his first of what could be many Pro Bowls after picking off five passes for Pittsburgh.
8. Sammie Smith, RB (Round 1, Pick 9 in 1989) - All appeared well in Smith’s first two seasons. He led the team in rushing both years and had a combined 1,490 and 14 touchdowns. However, Smith’s numbers dropped off (297 yards in 1991) and a change of scenery to Denver didn’t help. He was arrested for possession and distribution of cocaine in 1996 and spent seven years in prison.
7. Frank Emanuel, LB (Round 2, Pick 9 in 1966) - Emanuel chose the Dolphins over the Eagles, who selected him in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He was the starting middle linebacker for three seasons in Miami (with four interceptions) before losing his spot to Nick Buoniconti. After one year with the Saints, Emanuel retired and began a college coaching career that included stops at Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Memphis. He is a member of both the College Football and Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame.
6. John Bosa, DE (Round 1, Pick 16 in 1987) - While his sons, Joey and Nick, are current NFL stars, John never lived up to that billing during his professional career. He was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 1987 and totaled seven sacks over three seasons in Miami before blowing out both knees.
5. Eric Kumerow, DE (Round 1, Pick 16 in 1988) - Another player from a famous family, Kumerow also had a short career, recording five sacks in three seasons with the Dolphins. He is the grandson of former Chicago mob boss Tony Accardo, the son of former Colts guard Palmer Pyle, and the father of Jake Kumerow, a wide receiver for the Packers. Also, Kumerow’s sister, Cheryl, is the ex-wife of John Bosa, making him the uncle of Joey and Nick.
4. Yatil Green, WR (Round 1, Pick 15 in 1997) - On his first day of training camp, Green suffered torn cartilage, a torn quadriceps and a torn ACL in his right knee which ended his rookie season. The following year, he tore the same ACL and missed the season again. In 1999, he had 234 yards receiving in eight games. After three years and 10 knee surgeries, the Dolphins cut Green. He signed with the Jets in 2000 and the Raiders in 2001, but was released by both teams without playing in a game.
3. Jim Grabowski (Round 1, Pick 1 in 1966) - The first overall pick in the 1966 AFL Draft chose instead to play for the Packers, who selected him ninth in the NFL Draft. The Chiefs took Oklahoma State’s Walt Garrison 150 picks later. While Garrison never played with Kansas City, he was a two-time Super Bowl participant with Dallas. He rushed for 74 yards in the Cowboys’ 24-3 victory over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.
2. Rick Norton, QB (Round 1, Pick 2 in 1966) - Miami’s first draft did not prove very fruitful, with three players on this list, all within the top 10 picks. Norton finished his four-year Dolphins career with a 1-10 record, 1,751 yards, and an underwhelming seven touchdown-to-30 interception ratio. He ended the team’s expansion year fourth on the depth chart before Griese took over the following year.
1. Dion Jordan, DE (Round 1, Pick 3 in 2013) - Jordan is still in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be labeled a “bust.” The much-hyped pass rusher played all 16 games as a rookie, posting 26 tackles, two sacks and two passes defended, but that was the high point of his stay in Miami. He was suspended the first four games of the 2014 season for performance-enhancing drugs, then got two games added on for a violation in mid-September. A third violation resulted in Jordan losing the entire 2015 season. He was reinstated conditionally for 2016, but did not play. The Dolphins released him in early 2017 after he failed a physical. Jordan’s two years in Seattle included a 10-game suspension for using Adderall after his exemption expired, and he had two sacks in seven games for Oakland in 2019.
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-By: Kevin Rakas
Writer