Dolphins Potential Draft Target: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The 2023 NFL draft is quickly approaching.
The Miami Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick (would have been 21st overall) due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, but they do have the 51st overall pick, a third-round pick (85) and two Day 3 picks (198 and 241).
Miami is hoping those picks can help them build on a roster that reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2016.
This article series is intended to be an introduction to these players so fans are familiar with a number of options and why they make sense for the Dolphins.
We’ll dive into some simple biographical information, the pros and cons of their game and how they fit into Miami’s scheme or depth chart.
ALABAMA RB JAHMYR GIBBS
Career stats: 2,132 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 1217 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns
Basic background: Gibbs played the first two seasons of his career at Georgia Tech. He was the 44th-rated recruit in the country and a consensus four-star recruit before committing to the Yellow Jackets. He immediately made an impact, racking up almost 800 total yards as a freshman. As a sophomore, Gibbs finished with 1,805 total yards, the second-most in Georgia Tech history. However, the Yellow Jackets never made any noise in the ACC, so Gibbs transferred to Alabama last offseason. In one season with the Crimson Tide, Gibbs racked up the second-most single-season receptions by a running back in Alabama history. His 6.1 yards per carry was the 20th-highest mark in the nation last season.
Pros of Gibbs' Game
The most apparent strength of Gibbs’ game is his pass-catching ability. He finished his collegiate career with 1,217 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns on 103 catches. Gibbs didn’t have all that production on just screens. He’s a legitimate threat to line up in the slot and win a one-on-one matchup against a defensive back. For a running back, he’s a polished, versatile route runner with soft hands.
As a runner, Gibbs has the explosiveness, elusiveness and long speed to be a consistent home-run hitter in the NFL. His 4.36 40-yard dash ranked in the 97th percentile, and it shows up on his film constantly.
He’s not just an athlete, though. Gibbs displays good vision and contact balance between the tackles, allowing him to make the most of poorly blocked plays. He takes on contact well for his size, and he’s tough enough to survive an NFL season.
The former Crimson Tide back is also a reliable option on kick returns. On 44 attempts, he finished with 1,052 return yards (23.9 average) and one touchdown.
Gibbs’ blend of athletic ability and pass-catching prowess makes him the perfect modern-day running back.
Cons of Gibbs' Game
All of the weaknesses in Gibbs’ game are centered around his size. He’s 5-9, 199 pounds, which ranks in the 25th and 14th percentiles, respectively. He’s a tough runner and appears capable of dealing with contact, but NFL defenders tend to hit harder than college ones.
Additionally, Gibbs’ lack of size makes him a liability in pass protection. He’s not the player you want protecting the quarterback against an all-out blitz.
Gibbs’ pass-catching ability should make him a three-down back, but if he’s genuinely a liability in pass protection, it will limit just how many third downs where he can stay on the field.
Outside of that, there aren’t a ton of concerning facets of Gibbs’ game. He’s well rounded and battle-tested in the SEC and ACC.
HOW JAHMYR GIBBS FITS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
Depending on who you ask, the Dolphins do or don't have a significant need at running back. However, it appears the team is comfortable returning the entire room from last season, including the top producers of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.
Teams don’t typically re-sign multiple running backs and then turn around and select another one in the NFL draft with a premium selection.
Setting aside team needs and positional value, Gibbs makes a ton of sense for the Dolphins. Coach Mike McDaniel loves speed on offense, and Gibbs is one of the fastest players in the entire draft class.
While Mostert and Wilson are solid backs, they didn’t produce many long runs in 2022. That’s an area where Gibbs should excel right away. Additionally, the Dolphins are one of the most pass-heavy teams in the NFL, making Gibbs’ pass-catching profile a perfect fit.
The only part of Gibbs’ on-field profile that doesn’t fit Miami is his lack of pass-protection skills. The Dolphins have an oft-injured quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, so putting a player back there who can’t hold up against bigger players probably isn’t wise.
Chances Gibbs makes it to 51
Gibbs’ talent shouldn’t allow him to fall to No. 51 overall. He’s the quintessential modern-day NFL running back, so teams likely will be all over him.
He’s the consensus second-best running back in the draft — behind Texas’ Bijan Robinson — so the second Robinson is off the board, Gibbs won’t be far behind.
The only chance Miami has is if Robinson slides into the late 20s of the first round. Running back has arguably the lowest positional value of any position, so if Robinson slides, it could push Gibbs down the board in the process.
In all likelihood, the Dolphins would have to trade up to acquire Gibbs. Trading up to select a running back will never be a good value.
With that said, the Dolphins are in a winning window. If Miami feels Gibbs is the final piece for a Super Bowl-winning offense, it makes sense to get him. However, such an evaluation would require disregarding needs at more valuable positions like offensive tackle and tight end.
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