The Dolphins Drafts of the Last 10 Years: 2015
Leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, we're taking a look at each of the Miami Dolphins' past 10 drafts with an analysis of how each pick panned out, a grade for all those picks, players the team missed, and an overall grade for the draft class.
The grades will be determined on the basis of how the player's NFL career turned out, not how each did with the Dolphins. Picks also are curved on a grade, where more was expected of a first-round pick than, say, a fourth-round pick.
We continue with the 2015 draft.
THE 2015 DOLPHINS DRAFT PICKS
Round 1 — WR DeVante Parker, Louisville (15th overall)
Round 2 — DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma (52nd)
Round 4 — G Jamil Douglas, Arizona State (114th)
Round 5 — DB Bobby McCain, Memphis (145th)
Round 5 — RB Jay Ajayi, Boise State (149th)
Round 5 — DB Cedric Thompson, Minnesota (150th)
Round 5 — CB Tony Lippett, Michigan State (156th)
BREAKING DOWN EACH PICK
-- DeVante Parker: Parker was one of the most polarizing picks of the past decade because the glimpses of high-end talent he flashed from time to time always seemed to be accompanied by one injury or another that either would sideline him or keep him out of the lineup. Parker will be heading into his ninth NFL season in 2023 and he has yet to become a truly impact player. The closest he came was in the second half of the 2019 season, which is ironic because that was a time when losses actually would help the Dolphins. Who the Dolphins could have had: The 2015 draft wasn't necessarily loaded with stars, but the Dolphins could have had in the first round instead of Parker players like DT Arik Armstead, CB Marcus Peters, OLB Bud Dupree, G Laken Tomlinson or CB Byron Jones, who they eventually would get by giving him a huge free agent contract. Grade: C-
-- Jordan Phillips: The book on Phillips coming into that 2015 draft was that he had high-end physical traits but didn't always play like that. And that's exactly how his NFL career has gone. While he's also heading into his ninth season, he's never really become an impact player while flashing occasional big plays. Who the Dolphins could have had: The remainder of the second round produced two players who had much more impact in the NFL, IOL Ali Marpet and DE Frank Clark. Grade: C
-- Jamil Douglas: Douglas started six games as a rookiefor the Dolphins, but his career never took off and he couldn't find another team after the Giants released him last August. Douglas was part of "Black Monday" in 2016 when Adam Gase cut three offensive linemen — Billy Turner, Dallas Thomas and Douglas — after an ugly loss against Tennessee. Douglas has played 47 NFL games with 11 starts. Who the Dolphins could have had: While it's tough to knock a fourth-round pick, it's painful to see other players taken after Douglas in that round, such as Za'Darius Smith, Kwon Alexander and Shaq Mason. Grade: C+
-- Bobby McCain: The first of the Dolphins' unusually high four fifth-round picks in 2015 turned out to be the best selection. An undersized ball hawk in college, McCain has carved himself a pretty good NFL career with 87 starts in 121 games. While he's never made the Pro Bowl, McCain has been a solid starter the past five seasons, including the last two in Washington. Who the Dolphins could have had: Of course, we have to mention the player who was picked right after McCain because it was Stefon Diggs, who merely became one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Still can't knock the McCain pick, though. Grade: A
-- Jay Ajayi: The book on Ajayi heading into the NFL was that he was talented back whose longevity was in question because of knee issues and that's exactly how it played. Ajayi didn't have a very long NFL career, but he did give the Dolphins and their fans a season to remember when he had three 200-yard rushing performances in helping the team reach the playoffs. Who the Dolphins could have had: There's really nobody else in the fifth round who became a major impact player, though maybe an argument could be made that tight end C.J. Uzomah could have been a better pick since he's still in the NFL. Grade: B-
-- Cedric Thompson: This one just didn't work out. Thompson couldn't make the 53-man roster as a rookie and then also failed to catch on with the Patriots, Vikings and Bengals. He never played a game in the NFL. Who the Dolphins could have had: The aforementioned Uzomah and fellow tight end Jesse James would have made better selections here. Grade: F
-- Tony Lippett: Lippett joined the Dolphins as a converted wide receiver, so he always figured to be a project. Lippett didn't have a very long NFL career — he finished it with three games with the Giants in 2018 — but did some good work for the Dolphins in 2016 when he had four interceptions and started 13 games for the playoff team. Who the Dolphins could have had: Along with the previously mentioned tight end, there was another player at that position who ended up going in the sixth round who'll stand as the one who got away. His name is Darren Waller. Grade: C
2015 DOLPHINS DRAFT GRADE
Out of the seven picks, there is one combined Pro Bowl selection among the group, the one for Ajayi in 2016. Parker, Phillips and McCain are the three who still were in the NFL in 2022, but the impact of this group has been minimal at best with few exceptions. Bonus points for Ajayi and Lippett's work in 2016, but Parker and Phillips didn't live up to their draft status.
Grade: C
