Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tannehill, Titans help Dolphins secure No. 3 pick in 2021 draft
It may be hard to find some silver lining after the Miami Dolphins’ disappointing loss on the road to the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 season finale.
But the Dolphins did get some great news on Sunday, following their 56-26 blow out loss in Buffalo:
Miami owns the No .3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft thanks to their old pal Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill, who was the Dolphins quarterback for seven years, threw a 54-yard pass to A. J. Brown to set the Tennessee Titans up for a game-winning field goal to hand a 41-38 loss to the Houston Texans, and secure Miami’s second top-five draft pick in as many seasons.
The Dolphins own the No. 3 and No. 18 picks in the first round of draft, which should will kick-start an offseason full of chatter involving rookie quarter back Tua Tagovai lo a and whether Miami adds offensive playmakers through free agency and the draft or moves in a new direction at the position altogether.
When Tag ovai lo a was asked post game if he feels confident he will remain the Dolphins’ starting quarterback next season, he replied:
“I don’t think I have control over any of those things,” Tagovailoa said. “I think all I can do is continue to grow, get better, and this off season get with a good amount of the guys and see what we can do from there going into next season.”
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson are considered the best available quarterbacks this year. Alabama receiver Devonta Smith, LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell are among the top offensive players in the draft field.
The Dolphins will have two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the draft, as the final payments in Miami’s trade of former franchise left tackle La rem yTunsil and receiver Kenny Stills to the Tex ans before the 2019 season.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier will have four months to decide whether to keep the No .3 pick and draft the best available player or trade it for more draft assets to the highest bidder.
Howard and Jones get INTs
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, pulled in his 10th interception of the season during the second half on Sunday, putting the icing on a remarkable season in which he returned from a significant knee injury.
“Being able to say I played 16 games after the surgery I had, a big surgery and it was worse than a ACL … just coming from that, getting that confidence and want to feed off that for next year and help the team win games,” Howard said.
Howard tied the Dolphins’ franchise record for most interceptions in a season, joining Dick Westmoreland, who had just as many during the 1967 season. He also became the first player to have double-digit interceptions in a season since Antonio Cromartie in 2007.
Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones — their highest-paid player after a five-year, $82.5 million deal he signed last off season—picked off Bills quarter back Josh Allen for his second interception with Miami and the fourth of his career during the first quarter.
Jones dragged his right foot inbounds just before his momentum took him out of bounds. The play was initially called out of bounds before Dolphins coach Brian Flores challenged the ruling. The turnovers extended the Dolphins’ streak to 22 consecutive games with a turnover forced — the longest active streak in the NFL and is tied for the third-longest streak in team history.
Parker has strong return
Dolphins receiver De Van te Parker, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, returned to lead Miami with seven catches for 116 yards in the loss.
Parker caught passes for 17, 13, 25 and 6 yards, and drew a pass interference call on Bills corner back Josh Norman that got Miami down to the 1-yard line on their first drive of the second half, which ended in Myles Gaskin’s touchdown run.
Parker added a 31-yard catch later in the game from Tagovailoa. He finishes the 2020 season with 63 catches for 793 yards and four touchdowns.
Tight end Mike Gesicki ends the season as Miami’ s touchdown leader with six touchdown catches, and second behind Parker with 53 receptions and 703 yards.
Gaskin ends the season as Miami’s leading rusher with 584 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns. He also had 41 catches for 388 yards receiving and two touch downs.
Heritage alum shines
The Dolphins saw Bills receiver and South Florida product Isaiah McKenzie score Buffalo’s first three touchdown soft he game—all during the second quarter.
McKenzie first score do na 7- yard pass from Allen, before catching a 14-yard touchdown with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter. McKenzie got the best of Dolphins nickel cornerback Nik Needham on both plays to take a 14-3 lead.
Less than two minutes later, McKenzie returned a punt 84 yards that demoralized the Dolphins with a 21-3 deficit with 5:22 left in the first half. McKenzie earned the nickname “Human Joystick” in high school and put up a video-game like performance to put the Dolphins behind early on the road in Buffalo.
Other news and notes
— Along with hosting and visiting AFC East rivals, the Dolphins will host the Tex ans, Colts, Falcons, Panthers and Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium next season, while visiting the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Saints, Titans and Raiders in 2021. Miami will also face either the Giants if the Washington Football team wins Sunday’ s game against Philadelphia, or Washington if the Eagles win.
— Dolphins rookie Malcolm Perry, a seventh-round pick, caught his first career touchdown pass with 2:47 left to play.
— Dolphins receiver Jakeem Grant, who was dealing with a high ankle sprain, did not play. Rookie offensive lineman Solomon Kindley, who started the first 13 games, also did not play due to knee and foot injuries.
— Quarterback Jake Rudock, running back DeAndre Washington, linebacker Ka mu Grugie r-Hill, offensive line man Adam Pankey, receiver Kirk Merritt and defensive tackle Benito Jones were inactive for Miami.