Dolphins’ 3rd overall pick gets value boost at underclassmen deadline

Kyle Crabbs
·2 min read

You may not go ahead and collectively exhale, Dolphins fans. Crisis averted.

The 2021 NFL Draft will feature the Miami Dolphins picking at No. 3 overall — and part of the appeal of such an arrangement is that there are a perceived “Big Three” of 2021 quarterback prospects available. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson. And with Miami picking at three, the team will be guaranteed to have one of those quarterbacks on the board and potentially poised to reap the benefits by trading out of that slot with a team desperate to land a top-tier QB prospect this offseason.

But the Big Three wasn’t officially set in stone until just under 24 hours ago. And with the NFL’s underclassmen declaration looming at the end of the day yesterday, there was plenty of reason to hold your breath as a Dolphins fan.

But worry not! Ohio State’s Justin Fields did indeed make the plunge and announced, along with a slew of other Buckeyes, that he would be entering the 2021 NFL Draft and thus ensuring Miami will have a prime trade down opportunity awaiting them in April, if they want it. Fields has been hyper-analyzed over the course of the past few months, a situation that Dolphins fans and 2020 rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can certainly sympathize with after a rookie campaign that was filled with understandable ups and downs.

While Miami will enjoy the potential kickback and payout that comes with Fields’ presence boosting the 2021 quarterback class, it wasn’t all good news for the Dolphins on the NFL Draft front yesterday. One of Fields’ teammates, wide receiver Chris Olave, declared a return for the 2021 college season in Columbus — leaving the 2021 NFL Draft without one of its most gifted route runners. If Miami hopes to boost their receiver room (and you can be sure they do), Olave’s departure for another year hurts.

All that sting can be easily washed away, however, if the team can cash out of No. 3 and further resupply their treasure chest of draft assets for 2022 and beyond.