As we head into the homestretch to the 2024 NFL draft, it’s a good time to revisit the Miami Dolphins draft history at every position.
In this draft series, we’ll break down each position with number of picks since the start of the “common draft” in 1967, first-round selections, hits and misses, and any trends that might apply.
Hits: Csonka, Jim Kiick (Round 5, 1968), Mercury Morris (Round 3, 1969), Tony Nathan (Round 3, 1979), Troy Stradford (Round 4, 1987), Lamar Miller (Round 4, 2012), Jay Ajayi (Round 5, 2016), Myles Gaskin (Round 7, 2019), and De’Von Achane.
Missing: Steve Winfrey (Round 2, 1975), Sammie Smith, Avery, J.J. Johnson (Round 2, 1999), Daniel Thomas (Round 2, 2011), Kalen Ballage.
Trends: Prior to taking (and landing) De’Von Achane last year, the Dolphins had not taken a running back in the first three rounds since 2016. The Dolphins were ahead of the devaluation trend at the position, having not taken a running back in either of the first two rounds since 2011, when they selected Daniel Thomas from Kansas State.
Reflecting the franchise’s overall success, the Dolphins set the standard for drafting running backs in their early years, selecting Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Mercury Morris in consecutive drafts in the late 1960s.
While the Dolphins did not have the same level of success following that, they did look to strike gold last season with him, who established an NFL rookie record for highest average per gain among backs with at least 100 rushing attempts.
Between that, the Dolphins often received their most significant contributions at running back from free agents or players acquired in trades, though Lamar Miller did have some solid seasons after coming as a fourth-round choice in 2012.
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