This is Chris Grier's 10th NFL draft as Miami Dolphins GM. What are his draft tendencies?
Hal Habib- Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is known for making trades during the NFL draft.
- Grier tends to favor value over drafting for team needs.
- Grier has not had much success drafting players in the later rounds.
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier once traded away an NFL draft pick, then traded for that pick, then traded it away again.
In 2022, Grier controlled 13 different picks, not one of which wasn’t either traded away or traded for.
So yes, Grier loves dealin’ at draft time. But that’s just one aspect of his draft tendencies that can be gleaned from his record:
1. Chris Grier’s phone must always be on
In the 2021 and 2022 drafts, Grier swung five trades involving first-round picks, deals in part due to the Tyreek Hill trade. Those deals also produced receiver Jaylen Waddle.
In 2020 and ’21, Grier made four deals to move up or down for a particular player. Three cases involved an offensive lineman he had targeted, but none of those trades had the desired effect. They netted cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (first round, 2020), guard Solomon Kindley (fourth, 2020), defensive end Curtis Weaver (fifth, 2020) and offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg (second, 2021).
The Dolphins currently hold 10 picks in this year’s draft, including the 13th overall selection in the first round.
While it’s safe to say Grier is bound to make at least some moves, the fact remains the team did not fill all its needs in free agency. So if you’re thinking he might package three picks to make a major leap up, think again. No one hits on every pick, so the closer the Dolphins come to walking away from the draft with 10 players, the more likely they are to produce a few players who can help them immediately.
And make no mistake, they must have a few impact rookies in 2025.
2. Chris Grier is big on value — most of the time
Grier has long maintained he looks heavily at the value of each pick vs. drafting for need.
Every GM has his own philosophy on that. And it could change from year to year. A team at the top of the draft likely has needs up and down its roster and will look heavily at value, whereas a team on the cusp of contending might target a particular position.
Grier’s recent history suggests he’s open to going the value route or the need route.
In 2020 and ’21, he went for need with picks that included quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, offensive tackle Austin Jackson, Waddle, linebacker Jaelan Phillips and safety Jevon Holland. Plus the move up to No. 42 for Eichenberg.
The 2022 draft was essentially a wash because of the Hill trade beforehand. Grier’s first pick wasn’t until the third round, for linebacker Channing Tindall, who has given them little.
In 2023, Miami’s top pick was cornerback Cam Smith, 51st overall, who faces a pivotal season in 2025. Then Grier stepped out of character to take De’Von Achane at No. 84, an unusually high spot for Grier to target a running back. Obviously, that has panned out.
Last year showed why some GMs stress value. The Dolphins were set at edge rushers with Phillips and Bradley Chubb until they weren’t — both players went down with season-ending injuries. The point being, an area of strength can quickly become an area of vulnerability. Did the Dolphins “need” linebacker Chop Robinson at No. 21 overall last year? They certainly did when it turned out they would miss Phillips for most of the 2024 season and Chubb for all of it.
3. Chris Grier prefers big-time programs
Looking over where Miami’s draft picks came from, you’ll find a fair number of Alabama guys (Tagovailoa, Waddle, Raekwon Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick). And there’s something to be said for that. You get to scout them against the best competition and competing for the biggest stakes.
It sounds simple, but in 2014, then-GM Dennis Hickey drafted players from North Dakota State, Montana, Coastal Carolina and Marist. The best of them, tackle Billy Turner (North Dakota State, taken in third round), went on to have a 10-year NFL career, but primarily because of success in Green Bay, not Miami.
4. Chris Grier hasn’t gotten lucky late
The last time Grier hit pay dirt in the final two rounds was when he took kicker Jason Sanders in the seventh round in 2018.
Since then, his most significant final-round pick was quarterback Skylar Thompson (seventh round, 2022), who hit a plateau last year.
Grier does have a love for seventh-round running backs, as evidenced by the selections of Chandler Cox, Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Perry and Gerrid Doaks.
Dolphins' best draft picks under Chris Grier
Year Player Round
2016 OT Laremy Tunsil 1
2016 CB Xavien Howard 2
2017 DT Davon Godchaux 5
2018 S Minkah Fitzpatrick 1
2018 TE Mike Gesicki 2
2019 DT Christian Wilkins 1
2019 LB Andrew Van Ginkel 5
2020 QB Tua Tagovailoa 1
2020 OT Austin Jackson 1
2020 G Robert Hunt 2
2021 WR Jaylen Waddle 1
2021 LB Jaelan Phillips 1
2021 S Jevon Holland 2
2023 RB De'Von Achane 3
2024 LB Chop Robinson 1
Dolphins' biggest busts under Chris Grier
Year Player Round
2017 DE Charles Harris 1
2019 OL Michael Deiter 3
2020 CB Noah Igbinoghene 1
2021 OL Liam Eichenberg 2
2021 TE Hunter Long 3
2022 LB Channing Tindall 3
2023 CB Cam Smith 2
When is the 2025 NFL draft?
When: April 24-26
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Complete list of when the Miami Dolphins pick in the 2025 NFL draft
Updated March 14, 2025. * Compensatory pick.
Round Pick Overall
1. 13 13
2. 16 48
3. 34 98*
4. 14 115
4. 34 135*
5. 12 151
5. 17 156 (via Denver in Bradley Chubb deal)
7. 8 226 (via Chicago in Chase Claypool deal)
7. 15 233
7. 34 252*
(Note: No, Pick No. 252 is not Mr. Irrelevant. That would be pick No. 256, currently held by Cleveland)
History of 13th overall pick in the NFL draft
*Denotes Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro selection
Year Pos. player Team
2024 TE Brock Bowers* Raiders
2023 LB Lukas Van Ness Packers
2022 DT Jordan Davis Eagles
2021 OT Rashawn Slater* Chargers
2020 OT Tristan Wirfs* Buccaneers
2019 DT Christian Wilkins Dolphins
2018 DT Daron Payne* Washington
2017 LB Haason Reddick* Cardinals
2016 OT Laremy Tunsil* Dolphins
2015 OT Andrus Peat* Saints
2014 DT Aaron Donald* Rams
(Others selected 13th overall include TE Tony Gonzalez (1997), TE Keith Jackson (1988), WR Eddie Brown (1985), TE Kellen Winslow (1979), RB Franco Harris (1972).)
When the Miami Dolphins have picked 13th
Year Pos. player College
1977 LB A.J. Duhe• LSU
1981 RB David Overstreet Oklahoma
2016 OT Laremy Tunsil* Mississippi
2019 DT Christian Wilkins Clemson
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
Cam Ward, NFL draft top prospect, gives Tennessee Titans 'all they need to see' at pro day
Miami Dolphins, Patrick Paul suddenly in a curious situation as NFL Draft nears | Habib