The Miami Dolphins’ rookie class was hardly a traditional group. The Dolphins only made two selections in the top-100 (Christian Wilkins and Michael Deiter) and saw a vast number of undrafted free agents step into the fray and gather snaps.
But snaps and opportunities don’t necessarily equate to accolades, as the Miami Dolphins found out this week when the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) released their annual rookie honors and All-Rookie Team. There wasn’t a single Dolphins player on the list.
The most obvious potential snub for the Dolphins was Wilkins — who finished the season with 56 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed and one receiving touchdown. In a crowded defensive line class, it’s understandable for Wilkins to be left off the top four and be left off the list, but yet one of the players who made the list in favor of Wilkins was made it a curious decision.
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Wilkins’ college teammate, posted 38 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 1 pass defensed and yet made the list over Wilkins — despite playing nearly equal snaps and having less production. Why? It’s easy to presume that playing in a New York market helped Lawrence’s case, but it is still none the less confusing to see Wilkins bumped out of the All-Rookie team based on visibility.
Miami’s other viable candidate would have been wide receiver Preston Williams, who went down at mid-season while pushing for a potential 1,000 yard receiving season with the Dolphins. He, of course, got preempted by tow talented and productive receivers — it is hard for the Dolphins to be too upset but his absence.
With triple the picks in the top-100 in 2020, it should stand within reason for Miami fans to hope, or rather expect, to see some Dolphins on next year’s PFWA All-Rookie team.
