Dolphins 2023 Post-Draft Power Rankings Roundup
The Miami Dolphins had a relatively quiet 2023 draft with a league-low four selections, but that came after an offseason that brought Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.
And when it comes to assessing where the Dolphins rank among NFL teams, there's a pretty good range of opinions based on national power rankings released this week, with Miami ranked as high as fifth and as low as 17th based on our survey of 12 national outlets..
The average ranking is 10.3, which matches the most common placement of 10th among those national outlets —CBS Sports, NFL.com, Pro Football Network, NBC Sports, The Sporting News, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, The 33rd Team, FanSided, For The Win, and Sportsnaut.
Here's the breakdown of the Dolphins' 12 power rankings spots, along with the commentary associated with it:
CBS Sports
Ranking: 9 Previous: 12
Analysis: As long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, they will be good on offense. The defense has improved by adding Jalen Ramsey on the corner. The problem is the division is brutal.
NFL.com
Ranking: 10 Previous: 10
Analysis: The Dolphins didn't have a first-round pick, thanks to their Tom Brady yacht shenanigans -- in fact, their four total picks were the fewest of any team in the league this year. When their turn finally came on Friday, the Fins decided to add another intriguing talent to their high-profile cornerback room. South Carolina cover man Cam Smith isn't about to steal playing time from Jalen Ramsey or Xavien Howard, but he will almost certainly have an immediate role in Vic Fangio's zone-coverage scheme. If Smith makes strides as a rookie, he could push Ramsey or Howard out of the lineup in 2024.
NBC Sports
Ranking: 13 Previous: 14
Analysis: With just four draft picks, Miami wasn’t able to add much young talent this week. But the roster remains well-stocked, with Jalen Ramsey being added to a 9-8 team. The Dolphins’ season all comes down to Tua Tagovailoa’s health.
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Sports Illustrated
Ranking: 13 Previous: 14
Analysis: Doubling down on speed is the only way for Miami, after seeing how truncated its offense became with a hampered Tyreek Hill later in the season. The only solution in the NFL right now, at any position, is more. Running back Devon Achane is a track star. Cam Smith also looks like an ideal Vic Fangio corner. This was a small class (only four picks), but the Dolphins certainly didn’t take any chances, believing that they are just a step away with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa.
The 33rd Team
Ranking: 17 Previous: 15
Analysis: Good news: The Miami Dolphins added six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey (scouting report) and re-signed both of their top running backs – Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert. Bad news: They had a league-low four picks in the draft. Had to forfeit their first-round pick for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. They had just two selections in the first five rounds.
Pro Football Network
Ranking: 8 Previous: 10
Analysis: The Miami Dolphins are in a weird spot. They’re likely one of the best 10 teams in the NFL, yet they’re likely also the third-best team in their own division. But maybe Miami’s offense is so efficient that it doesn’t matter. Maybe Vic Fangio can get this defense up to a more respectable level, because they sure have spent the offseason addressing it. However, the Jets already had a talented offense and one of the league’s best defenses, and they added Aaron Rodgers to make it so the QB position was the Achilles' heel of the team.
The Sporting News
Ranking: 11 Previous: 17
Analysis: The Dolphins were draft-capital strapped with no first-rounder but they still managed to add good cornerback and running back depth. Their concern is whether the defense has improved enough with Jalen Ramsey to catch the Bills and keep up with Rodgers' Jets.
USA Today
Ranking: 15 Previous: 16
Analysis: QB Tua Tagovailoa better be prepared to deliver in Year 4, because HC Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier have put a first-rate supporting cast around him.
The Athletic
Ranking: 10 Previous: N/A
Analysis: Despite having only four picks, the Dolphins still managed to add some juice, with third-round running back Devon Achane offering more explosive speed to an offense that already feels like the league’s fastest, and second-round cornerback Cam Smith able to compete for a role early on.
Sportsnaut
Ranking: 7 Previous: 9
Analysis: If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, the Miami Dolphins can win a Super Bowl. Already armed with one of the highest-scoring offenses, Miami landed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and then provided him with Jalen Ramsey and David Long Jr. A top-five offense, top-five defense and a phenomenal coaching staff, all Tagovailoa needs to do is stay on the field.
FanSided
Ranking: 5 Previous: N/A
Analysis: This past season, the Dolphins were back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016 but still haven’t won a postseason game since 2000. The club wound up forfeiting its first-round selection and finished the three-day process with an NFL-low four picks. Of course, Chris Grier did orchestrate a trade for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey (Rams). The biggest question is whether Tua Tagovailoa can stay on the field.
For The Win
Ranking: 6 Previous: 7
Analysis: Lost amidst the concern for Tua Tagovailoa’s health is that he had a breakthrough year in 2022, leading the league in passer rating thanks to offensive upgrades and a Mike McDaniel offense. If he’s truly healthy he’ll have the Dolphins ready to compete once more — especially if Devon Achane can fulfill McDaniel’s vision of fielding the league’s fastest offense. The 25th-ranked passing defense, however, remains a concern.
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