NFL Draft: Dolphins pass over quarterback, grab Christian Wilkins
The 2019 NFL Draft has been full of surprises, perhaps none bigger than the Miami Dolphins passing on a quarterback to draft Christian Wilkins.
Miami put the NFL Draft world on notice when they traded Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans. There had been murmurs the Dolphins were looking to move on from Tannehill and find a new signal caller, but the cat seemed to finally be out of the bag. Sort of. With Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock still on the board, the Dolphins chose Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
Wilkins was part of one of the most dominant defensive lines in college football last season. He picked up 14 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in his final collegiate season, bringing home a national championship trophy for his efforts. He’s a fearsome pass rusher with plenty of size and speed. He’s unquestionably an elite prospect, but was he the best pick?
On first blush, this pick is laughable. Miami had an obvious need but opted to let Ryan Fitzpatrick captain the ship in 2019. That is, unless the Dolphins have a bigger picture in mind. With no answer at quarterback this year, Miami is likely to be in the middle of a multi-year rebuild. If you’re in a multi-year rebuild, you don’t need a quarterback, you need talent.
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Taking Wilkins rather than a quarterback raises their talent level, but keeps them in the mix for a top pick in 2020 when guys like Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm are eligible to be selected. Pairing Wilkins with one of those guys could make Miami a legitimate contender in 2020, making this selection a brilliant move.