Many Phins fans including myself were expecting Hickey to trade out of the 19th pick after the top 4 tackles were selected, however Hickey stayed at 19 and slightly reached for RT Ja’Wuan James. A lot of sports gambling fans felt that Miami could have traded back a few spots, and still have drafted James. But in reality the draft can not be predicted, so if the Phins traded out of the 19th pick, there is no guarantee that James would have still been on the board. So phins fans can’t get too bent out of shape for Hickey drafting a player who is going to be a starting right tackle at our weakest position.
Then in the 2nd round Hickey decided to start wheeling and dealing. I know that while this stock market trading frenzy in the second round was going on, many Phins fans were getting frustrated and annoyed. Then when the Dolphins finally made the pick with the 63rd pick many dolphin fans were cursing the pick, and saying how we missed out on both running backs Bishop Sankey, and Carlos Hyde. For all you arm-chair GM’s it’s hard to say the Phins missed out on these players when more than likely Hickey and the Phins were not even targeting them. The Phins and every other team set up their draft board, and as players come off the board they either decide to move back because players they thought were going to be available came off the board earlier they they thought. Or they move ahead in the draft because they are getting the feeling that another team is going to draft their targeted player before them.
It’s pretty clear why Hickey traded back in the second round, when you look at who was selected in the 2nd round before they even had the chance to draft. Joel Bitonio who the Dolphins loved was selected third in the round, and Xavier Su’a-Filo another guard who they had interest in was selected first in the 2nd round. Other notable players that Miami had their eye on, that were selected before they were on the clock were: Marqise Lee, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Cyrus Kouandjio, Trent Murphy and Jace Amaro. Most of the Phin’s 2nd round prospects were taken before they even had a chance at drafting them. So instead Hickey decided to move back and gain some extra picks so he could give himself a better chance at finding some starters.
Then with the last pick in the 2nd round the Seahawks took an offensive tackle and then in the 3rd round Morgan Moses the offensive tackle who we were targeting was selected 2nd by the Redskins. So instead of waiting for their turn to draft Hickey felt that his preferred target, offensive lineman Billy Turner was not going to be available so he traded up to get him. So as much as all the Phins fans want to bash Hickey for not trading or trading too much, one thing that is getting overlooked is that Hickey and the Dolphins had certain players that they were targeting. When those players got drafted before the Phins had a chance to make a selection, then they decided to trade back. When he felt his targeted players were not going to be available when he had has chance to pick, he either traded up or stayed put like he did in the first round. Lastly this happens every year with the fans getting pissed at the GM because he didn’t draft the players that the fans wanted. Hate to let everyone down but the Dolphins are not participating in the draft to select players that the fans want, they are here to draft players that they want and think can best fit their game plan and style of play. No one will know how bad or good this draft is until it is fully completed, and at least 2-3 years have gone by to see who many starters have come from this draft.