The Dolphins are one player away from finishing up their draft class agreements. But they took care of a key contract Monday, coming to terms with first-round cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Miami acquired first-round picks from its Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick trades last year. The team made the Igbinoghene pick — at No. 30 overall — with the selection acquired from the Texans. The Dolphins traded down four spots, when the Packers moved up for Jordan Love, and further bolstered their new-look cornerback contingent.
Despite the Dolphins rostering two of the league’s three highest-paid corners — Byron Jones and Xavien Howard — the team used one of its three first-round picks to add to the group. Igbinoghene projects as a slot defender, one that may need some developmental time before assuming such a role. The Auburn alum has been a full-time cornerback for barely two years.
Igbinoghene moved from wide receiver to cornerback early in his college career, moving to defense in spring practice in 2018. He started the next two seasons on defense for the Tigers, however. Igbinoghene also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns during his three-year Auburn career.
This agreement leaves only second-round offensive lineman Robert Hunt unsigned. Here is how the Dolphins’ rookie class now stands:
1-5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Alabama): Signed
1-18: Austin Jackson, T (Miami): Signed
1-30: Noah Igbinoghene, CB (Auburn): Signed
2-39: Robert Hunt, OL (Louisiana)
2-56: Raekwon Davis, DL (Alabama): Signed
3-70: Brandon Jones, S (Texas): Signed
4-111: Solomon Kindley, OL (Georgia): Signed
5-154: Jason Strowbridge, DT (UNC): Signed
5-164: Curtis Weaver, DE (Boise State): Signed
6-185: Blake Ferguson, LS (LSU): Signed
7-246: Malcolm Perry, WR/RB (Navy): Signed
We’ll see about the Fins future. But having lots of draft picks doesn’t mean you’ll draft well.
It also doesn’t mean those players will pan out. I hope things pan out for them but recent history has not been kind to the Dolphins.
The more draft picks you have in early rounds increases the odds of hitting on some of them. Also having a proven guy like Marvin Allen as your assistant GM does help a lot.
Mixed draft for the Fins in my opinion. Tua was the obvious selection, with the team in need of a franchise leader. Hopefully he can move on from his previous injury troubles and showcase the talent he flashed in college.
I liked that they made sure to address the offensive line immediately and often. Jackson might be a bit raw, but I think he was a bit underrated coming into the draft. He was touted on the same level as Wirfs and Thomas prior to the 2019 season, but missed a majority of the preseason while donating his bone marrow. I’m not as high in Hunt, but he at can play at multiple positions as a useful depth piece at the very least. Kindley was one of my favorite guard prospects and I think he got overshadowed by Thomas on the Georgia offensive line.
I don’t believe Jones is a very talented safety and I’m not sure about selecting Noah in the first round at a position of strength when you have so many other needs. I would’ve either drafted a pass-rusher or weapon for Tua.
Nevertheless, it seems the Dolphins at least targeted the right positions and seem set up for the long-term future. It remains to be seen how these prospects develop, but it’s better than their previous cycle of mediocrity that had plagued them since the days of Ricky Williams.
What do you guys think? Are you optimistic about the Dolphins, or will they continue to flop? Flores certainly seems like the right man for the job…