The Dolphins Drafts of the Last 10 Years: 2016
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 2016 draft.
THE 2016 DOLPHINS DRAFT PICKS
Round 1 — T Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi (13th overall)
Round 2 — CB Xavien Howard, Baylor (38th)
Round 3 — RB Kenyan Drake, Alabama (73rd)
Round 3 — WR Leonte Carroo, Rutgers (86th)
Round 6 — WR Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech (186th)
Round 6 — DB Jordan Lucas, Penn State (204th)
Round 7 — QB Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky (223rd)
Round 7 — TE Thomas Duarte, UCLA (231st)
BREAKING DOWN EACH PICK
-- Laremy Tunsil: The Dolphins benefited from what is perhaps the wildest draft-night story ever, Tunsil's fall in the first round because of the infamous bong video that surfaced right before the draft started. The feeling all along is the Dolphins were getting a great talent and the only question that night should have been off the field. Those have not materialized at all and Tunsil is having a great career that could put him on track for the Hall of Fame. Oh, and it worked out great for the Dolphins as well even though Tunsil he's now in Houston because of all the assets that came back in the famous trade and what Miami has been able to do with those. Who the Dolphins could have had: There isn't a player taken in the first round after Tunsil that year that's had a better career, so the only name we could even mention here is DT Chris Jones, who was taken one pick before the Dolphins' second-round selection. Grade: A+
-- Xavien Howard: The Dolphins knew what they were doing when they moved up in the second round to get the ball-hawking Howard, who's made the Pro Bowl four times already (even though he shouldn't have been selected last year). Who the Dolphins could have had: The 2016 second round produced Derrick Henry and WR Michael Thomas, and maybe you could make a case for Henry having been a better choice, though there's something to be said for a great corner over a great running back. Grade: A
-- Kenyan Drake: The speedster from Alabama always teased with his breakaway speed and he's had a productive career, though it's always felt like he could become more of an impact player That said, he had some big plays in the Dolphins' 2016 playoff run and, of course, who could forget the "Miracle in Miami." Who the Dolphins could have had: There are two third-round picks from 2016 whose names are painful to see as having been available for Miami, and that's guard Joe Thuney and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Grade: B-
-- Leonte Carroo: Carroo ended up lasting three years with the Dolphins, but never was a factor for the offense, compiling only 12 catches for 192. Carroo was a powerful wide receiver, but he didn't have enough else in his game and he never played for any other team. Who the Dolphins could have had: Hargrave was selected after Carroo as well as after Drake and the Dolphins also could have had safety Justin Simmons instead.. Grade: D
-- Jakeem Grant: Getting the greatest kick returner in franchise history is awesome value for a sixth-round pick. Sure, it's disappointing that Grant didn't become more of a factor on offense, but there's no way to knock the value here. Who the Dolphins could have had: One-time Dolphins player Ted Karras was the last pick of the sixth round that year, but also understand that Grant is the only sixth-rounder from 2016 who has ever been selected to the Pro Bowl. Grade: A
-- Jordan Lucas: As mostly a special teams player, Lucas played 50 games with four starts (all with Kansas City after the Dolphins traded him for a seventh-round pick) in five NFL seasons, which is not terrible for a sixth-round selection. Who the Dolphins could have had: Along with Karras, the bottom of the sixth round also featured LB Elandon Roberts and LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, two former Dolphins who are still in the NFL and would have been better selections. Grade: C
-- Brandon Doughty: Before the Dolphins took Skylar Thompson in the seventh round last year, they took a shot with this South Florida product, but he never could make it onto a 53-man roster, whether with Miami or Arizona. Who the Dolphins could have had: CB Jalen Mills is the one name that stands out from the 2016 seventh round. Grade: D
-- Thomas Duarte: Duarte got on the field for one game with Miami, and that was the extent of his NFL career, which ended for the undersized tight end after stints with the Chargers, Panthers and Falcons. Who the Dolphins could have had: Mills also was picked after Duarte and the Dolphins also could have gone for DB Jayron Kearse or OL Austin Blythe. Grade: D
2016 DOLPHINS DRAFT GRADE
Understanding that nailing three picks (barring multiple first-round picks) almost automatically makes it a good draft, what the Dolphins did in 2016 surpasses good and moves into very good territory, even great. Tunsil, Howard and Grant were great picks, and Drake also should be considered a good pick and makes up for the miss on Carroo. This was the Dolphins' best draft of the past 10 years.
Grade: A
ADDITIONAL READING:
-- REVIEWING AND GRADING THE DOLPHINS' 2013 DRAFT
