2020 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins plan going swell after week one

The Miami Dolphins were clearly not being shy about tanking in the 2019 season for the 2020 NFL Draft. Their plan is going swell after one week.

The Miami Dolphins have had one eye on the future for quite some time now, but their week one performance against the Baltimore Ravens is the first on-field evidence we’ve seen of the #DolphinTank2020.

The Dolphins’ moves in 2019 indicated an eye on the future, and the Baltimore Ravens — a playoff team from a season ago — exploited all of the change in Miami to the tune of a 59-10 whooping which included:

• Two huge Marquise Brown touchdowns (watch here)
• 643 total yards of offense for the Ravens
• Six pass TDs (5 from Lamar Jackson, 1 from Robert Griffin III)
• 3 Dolphins turnovers
• 265 yards rushing for Baltimore, 200 yards total for Miami

The Ravens more than tripled Miami’s offensive output in this, the first of Miami’s 16-part comedy of ineptitude.

The Dolphins have nothing to look forward to this season, so what about 2020? What’s there to be excited about?

Well, here are a few things, Dolphins fans.

1. Justin Herbert got back on the saddle

It was a tough end to the first week of the college season for Justin Herbert, whose Oregon Ducks were beaten on a game-winning drive by the Auburn Tigers after a decent performance by Herbert.

He bounced back against Nevada in a big way, picking apart the Wolfpack defense to the tune of five touchdown passes.

Herbert is obviously a candidate to be the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

2. Preston Williams is a nice piece

Preston Williams had a huge offseason and preseason for the Dolphins, showing flashes of brilliance and what made him such an intriguing player at Colorado State.

The undrafted free agent (off-field issues pushed him out of the draft) caught his first NFL touchdown pass and showed off some nice footwork.

3. Standing out above the rest

Of all the teams that have lost so far in week one, the Dolphins look the absolute worst, which should come as a surprise to nobody.

Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen threw interceptions in this game, although Rosen threw just three passes and had one picked off while Fitzpatrick played the majority of the game.

The more Fitzpatrick plays, the less the Rosen trade makes sense. On the one hand, it really isn’t fair to subject Rosen to this kind of incompetence, and on the other hand, you have to see what the kid’s got or you can’t make an informed decision after the season.

My guess is, that decision is already made — the Dolphins are going QB at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft if they can get there, and this is the first step.

Things are going according to plan.