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The Miami Dolphins had limited capital during the 2023 NFL Draft after trading one of its first-round picks for Bradley Chubb and forfeiting another due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
With only four draft picks, they weren't able to make a big splash, but the team likely found at least two players that will contribute right away.
Who did the Dolphins take during the 2023 NFL Draft and will any of their picks make a fantasy impact? Let's dive in.
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Miami Dolphins Draft Picks
Second Round (No. 51): Cam Smith - CB, South Carolina
Third Round (No. 84): Devon Achane - RB, Texas A&M
Sixth Round (No. 197): Elijah Higgins - WR/TE, Stanford
Seventh Round (No. 238): Ryan Hayes - OT, Michigan
Miami added to its cornerback room of Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. Don't expect Cam Smith to play a ton of snaps right away, but he was a top DB in this draft class and could be one of the league's best No. 3 cornerbacks. Achane will likely have an early opportunity to play given his third-round draft capital, but Elijah Higgins and Ryan Hayes aren't locks to make the roster.
Overall, it's a solid draft class given the limited purchasing power Miami had.
Dolphins 2023 Rookie Fantasy Impact
In Achane's 2022 junior campaign at Texas A&M, he became the clear lead back -- rushing 196 times for 1,102 yards and eight rushing scores. He also set a career-high for receptions, securing 36 passes for 196 yards and three receiving scores. To make things more impressive, he had a productive season despite playing in one of the SEC's worst offenses. The Aggies finished only ahead of Kentucky and Vanderbilt in total offense last season in the SEC.
He seems to be a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel's wide-zone scheme and is sure to get touches early on. He'll compete with Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert for carries, but it will likely be a three-man committee in Miami's backfield. If either Wilson or Mostert goes down with an injury, he'll have some real upside in one of the league's most electric offenses. Achane should be a top-15 pick in rookie dynasty drafts and could be a viable player for a zero-RB build in upcoming 2023 fantasy drafts.
It's unclear whether Elijah Higgins will play tight end or wide receiver, but with Mike Gesicki gone, he could have a chance to carve out a role at the TE spot. Either way, the targets will be dominated by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, so don't expect much from the Stanford product in year one should he make the active roster.
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