So many times the Dolphins’ draft story is written weeks before draft night. Take 2001. Personnel director Tom Braatz and general manager Rick Spielman wanted to draft quarterback Drew Brees. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey didn’t.
Or take 2005. Nick Saban expected to draft Utah quarterback Alex Smith with the No. 2 pick. That depended on the top-rated quarterback, USC’s Matt Leinart, coming out as a junior. Leinart stayed in school. San Francisco took Smith at No. 1.
Now the story is already written, too. The Dolphins traded out of the third pick for the sixth pick and, essentially, a fifth-round pick this draft and a first-round pick in 2023.