We always assumed the Dolphins were a trade partner for the Lions. Miami needs a quarterback, and Detroit has the pick at No. 3 overall to choose between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.
We never thought it could lead us here.
According to Ian Rapoport, Miami is indeed "gauging the price to come up to No. 3" -- but not for a quarterback. For an offensive tackle.
It's the kind of twist we didn't see coming the day before the draft.
Sources: The #Dolphins have called the teams in front of them for a possible trade up from No. 5 and are gauging the price to come up to No. 3 to potentially take an offensive tackle. We could see a run on tackles in the Top 10 like never before.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 22, 2020Is it true?
Well, if the Dolphins really want their pick of offensive tackles, No. 3 would be the place to go. Joe Burrow and Chase Young are the consensus first two picks, and the Giants are rumored to be eyeing a pair of tackles in Iowa's Tristan Wirfs and Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. at No. 4. Georgia's Andrew Thomas is a potential top-10 pick as well.
The Dolphins want to get ahead of the Giants, not for Tua, but for the best tackle. That's real.
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) April 22, 2020'Early Fireworks' From Redskins Could Dictate Lions' Next Move
Of course, this would be the time for a last-minute smokescreen. Maybe the Dolphins want to give the impression they're out on a QB to dissuade a team like the Chargers from jumping them. Maybe they want to give the impression they're in on an OL to prevent the Giants from offering up the No. 4 pick.
This could play out a few ways for Bob Quinn and Detroit. The Dolphins go all-in for a tackle and trade up to No. 3, and the Lions cash in. The Dolphins wait for a tackle at No. 5 and the Chargers wait for a QB at No. 6, and the Lions are forced to stand pat. The Dolphins and Chargers bid over the No. 3 pick for a QB, and the Lions hit the jackpot.
Whatever happens, Detroit is likely drafting Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah. The question is whether Quinn will have an extra pick in his pocket when he does it.
Sit tight -- we'll have the answers soon.
