The Dolphins are a little light on picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and there's a reason why.
As fans might recall, Miami was forced to forfeit its 2023 first-round pick. That penalty continues in 2024, as the franchise surrenders its third-round pick.
What did the Dolphins do to lose two valuable selections in the NFL Draft? The Sporting News has answers below.
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Why did the Dolphins forfeit third round pick in 2024 NFL Draft?
In 2022, the NFL investigated the Dolphins for "violating league policies pertaining to the integrity of the game."
Miami was being probed by the NFL for "violating league tampering rules" with former Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady and former Saints head coach Sean Payton when they were still under contract with their teams. It was also investigated for intentionally losing games during the 2019 season to improve its draft position.
The NFL found the Dolphins to be guilty of tampering with Brady and Payton but innocent of intentionally losing games when they went 5-11 in 2019.
"The Dolphins had 'impermissible communications' with Brady in 2019-2020 when he was with the Patriots. The Dolphins also had 'impermissible communications' with Brady again after the 2021 season while he was a member of the Buccaneers," the league's official statement said.
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Additionally, "Miami did not seek consent from New Orleans to have these discussions, which occurred before Coach Payton announced his decision to retire as head coach of the Saints," the league said.
"Following that announcement, Miami requested permission to speak to Coach Payton for the first time, which New Orleans declined to grant."
As a result, the NFL made the Dolphins forfeit their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick, and team owner Stephen Ross served a slight suspension as another slap on the wrist.
"The investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
"I know of no prior instance of a team violating the prohibition on tampering with both a head coach and star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of several years. Similarly, I know of no prior instance in which ownership was so directly involved in the violations."
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Dolphins draft picks 2024
The Dolphins entered the 2024 NFL Draft with just six picks. Five of the picks are their own, while one pick comes from the Bears via the trade that sent offensive lineman Dan Feeney to Chicago in August 2023.
- Round 1, Pick 21
- Round 2, Pick 55
- Round 5, Pick 158
- Round 5, Pick 184 (via CHI)
- Round 6, Pick 198
- Round 7, Pick 241
