One of the biggest challenges for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL’s 2021 Draft is finding the right value with their main asset, choice number 3 overall. A heated debate will continue to take place as fans evaluate options – including a possible exchange back from that location for an avid team for a quarterback.
Miami’s most attractive option for a quarterback business, the Detroit Lions, has already dealt with the switch from Matt Stafford to Jared Goff and picks – making them now an unlikely candidate in the quarterback market. What made Detroit such a good fit for Miami as a potential partner was the distance the Dolphins would have to move: Lions are just four points behind the Dolphins in seventh place overall.
But with Detroit apparently out of the question, the Miami operations return market becomes increasingly risky with new moves in the picture. Carolina, aged 8, is a viable candidate, but feels destined to have one less wide receiver on the plate with Lions choosing ahead of that place in order. Maybe Denver at 9 is on the market and San Francisco at 12 is right. But does Miami want to make its way out of the top 10?
Otherwise, the team can rest easy with the knowledge of a new candidate for an exchange scenario: the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles are currently involved in an impasse to move veteran quarterback Carson Wentz, who has seen his relationship with the team wear out, presumably, to a point of no return. And with the Eagles looking to send Wentz to the Midwest (the club’s leaders say its services are Indianapolis and Chicago), Philadelphia will add some Day 2 choices to its asset collection in the near future.
And Philadelphia, which came in 6th place in the NFL draft order this year, is apparently going to reevaluate its quarterback status and at least one Eagles beat writer, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Enquirer, seems to think the team will be on the market for a quarterback at the top of the draft order.
If the Eagles move Wentz and expect a first division quarterback to be on the board, they have a terrible awakening coming their way. Trevor Lawrence is a presumed block at No. 1, while Zach Wilson or Justin Fields seem destined for a choice at No. 2 for the Jets (or other team). Miami buying her choice keeps the threat of three defenders in three choices a very real possibility and Carolina will be taking a deep breath in the Eagles’ neck unless there is a big development with QB Deshaun Watson or someone else in the championship.
So Philadelphia: any interest in replicating Sam Darnold’s 2018 trade? That year, the Jets sent three 2nd round picks for the Colts to move from 6th to 3rd overall and with Sam Darnold. After the Eagles were transferred to Wentz, the team could theoretically send the following package to move up three spots:
General No. 6
General No. 37
No. 52 overall or No. 54 overall (assuming trade with Chicago or Indianapolis for Wentz)
A 2022 2nd round choice
This may seem like a high price to pay, but remember that the Jets did exactly the same deal with the Colts in 2018. That deal sent the NFL Draft No. 37 and 49 picks and a 2019 2nd round pick (No. 34 in general).
With that in mind, Dolphins fans everywhere must hope the Eagles strike a deal with Wentz and kick-start the next step in the process of exploring trading options to return from third overall.