The Miami Dolphins are poised to build for the future with three picks (No. 5, No. 18 and No. 26) in Thursday's opening round of the NFL Draft, but that doesn't always translate into success on the field. Look no further than these five biggest first-round misses in franchise history.
Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon, No. 3, 2013
The Dolphins traded up to make Jordan the third overall pick of the 2013 draft. After appearing in all 16 games as a rookie, Jordan missed a total of six games in 2014 for twice violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy. He was forced to sit out all of 2015 after a third violation and, despite being reinstated, didn't play a down for the Dolphins in 2016. He was released by the Dolphins in March 2017 after failing a physical.
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Randal Hill, WR, Miami, No. 23, 1991
The Miami product seemed like a natural choice for the Dolphins, but his first stint with the team lasted all but a game. Hill missed four weeks of training camp in a contract dispute before signing with the team in August 1991. The rookie from the University of Miami caught six passes for 70 yards and no touchdowns in three preseason games and was traded to the Cardinals two days after a 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season opener. "It's evident Randal is not ready to play," then-head coach Don Shula said. "He really hasn't had a chance to pick up our system and be ready to play the way I had hoped." Hill returned to the Dolphins for the 1995 and 1996 seasons, catching just 33 passes for 669 yards and four touchdowns.
David Overstreet, RB, Oklahoma, No. 13, 1981
Overstreet was Miami's first-round draft pick in 1981, but it would take another two years before he even wore a Dolphins uniform. A contract dispute led Overstreet to play in Canada and sign with the Montreal Alouettes instead. He finally suited up for the Dolphins in 1983 and showed much promise, rushing for 392 yards in 14 games, but he was killed when his car swerved off a Texas highway, crashed into gasoline pumps and exploded in June 1984.
Yatil Green, WR, Miami, No. 15, 1997
Despite being drafted 15th overall in 1997, Green didn't take the field for the Dolphins until 1999. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training camp of his rookie year, ending his season. He came back the next year only to tear the same ACL, again during training camp. By the end of the 1999 season, Green played in just nine games, catching 18 passes for 234 yards and no touchdowns. He was cut by the Dolphins and spent the next two preseasons with the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders, never making the final roster.
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Sammie Smith, RB, Florida State, No. 9, 1989
The ninth overall pick in 1989 only lasted three seasons in Miami, his fate sealed by fumbles in consecutive games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers in 1991. Smith was traded to Denver not long after his goal-line fumble against Houston that cost Miami in a 17-13 loss. After a season with the Broncos, Smith's NFL career was over. He was later convicted of two counts of cocaine possession and distribution, spending seven years in federal prison.
Coming Thursday: You've seen the worst draft mistakes the Dolphins have made in the first round. Now check out the five best decisions the franchise has ever made.
