Dolphins’ victory worth celebrating despite draft implications

It’s OK, Dolphins fans, to take a much-needed victory lap. And a brief break from fixating on next year’s draft.

Everyone’s psyche in South Florida needed that 26-18 win against the New York Jets, perhaps as much as the Dolphins can use the first overall pick in 2020.

No matter how much one may have become invested in #TankForTua, there was no way to hang on to any semblance of aqua-and-orange allegiance and root for a loss to the much-despised Jets. Especially when the coach on the opposing sideline was Adam Gase, who was such a disappointment in three seasons in Miami and is doing even worst with New York.

This hoping for losses to bolster draft position hasn’t been any fun for anyone. It’s tedious and burdensome.

Dolphins may not be done winning

Jockeying for draft position is far from settled. Halfway through the season, the Bengals, lone remaining winless team (0-8) is positioned to take touted Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or whoever they may want.

The Dolphins, with the Bengals and a rematch with the Jets in the Meadowlands remaining on the schedule, may not be done winning. The Bengals and Jets also face each other.

It’s pointless to fret about the implications for next April’s draft. As fans, it’s not your job.

As much attention as has been directed at Tagovailoa, it is unknown if Dolphins brass is convinced he is the next Marino.

Is Tua even best choice?

It is uncertain if Tua is even the best choice. That he has had significant injuries to both ankles since late last season raises some questions about durability and how he may hold up in the NFL.

What hasn’t changed is the Dolphins must come away from the next draft with a quarterback to lead a resurgence of the franchise. So they better pick a good one. It’s the task of general manager Chris Grier and his assistants to make that happen.

Grier and Co. have stockpiled a boatload of draft picks over the next two years, including three first-rounders in 2020 and two in 2021. How they play those chess pieces will be more interesting than anything that happens on the field in the next two months.

Sunday’s result doesn’t mean this Dolphins team is going anywhere notable this season. It was a sanity saver to get a day off from humiliation, particularly in light of recent events:

Then Thursday, Kenyan Drake, another discard who was an underutilized asset in Miami, ran wild in his debut with Arizona (110 yards rushing, 52 yards receiving and a touchdown).

Perhaps toughest to swallow, Ryan Tannehill was playing at an elite level in winning his first two starts for the Titans before losing Sunday to Carolina.

This win feels like miracle too

Nothing good had happened for the Dolphins since the Miami Miracle win against the Patriots on Dec. 9. Of the four players involved in the wild, multi-lateral desperation touchdown dash, only DeVante Parker remains. Drake, who finished it, Tannehill, who started it, and Kenny Stills, who kept it going, are all gone.

Coach Brian Flores, who finally got his first Dolphins win Sunday — along with the requisite Gatorade bath and game ball from the players — was a defensive coach on the other side that day.

Flores has a team that looked in the early weeks like one of the worst ever assembled in NFL duds showing marginal improvement the past three weeks. That is important for various reasons, even with the organizational objective clearly remains in the tank.

The habit of losing can become so ingrained it is tough to break even when the talent has been upgraded. The over-hyped Browns are a case in point.

In addition, you can’t draft an entire team in one or even two years. Something must be mined from this season.

Players on the rise

There are encouraging signs. Tight end Mike Gesicki, who has been much better in his second season, had his best NFL performance Sunday with six catches (on six targets) for 95 yards. Rookie receiver Preston Williams had receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns (though he injured his knee and reportedly will have an MRI Monday).

Last year’s top pick, Christian Wilkins, may have had his best game, with five tackles (three solo) including his first career sack.

Driven by some old-fashioned FitzMagic — veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had three touchdown passes and a 118.8 passer rating — it added up to the Dolphins’ sixth win in the past seven meetings with the rival Jets. That’s never a bad thing if you favor aqua over green.

Fitzpatrick said: “To do it with these guys, the things that we’ve had to fight through and all the negativity that is surrounding from the outside looking in, the way that guys have decided to be positive, decided to practice well, decided to come to work every single day and work hard, that’s what makes this one so special.”

So go ahead, Dolfans, toss aside the paper bags. Let someone else bury their heads in shame for a change.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

More from Dolphin Maven

Please check out our site, dedicated to bringing you Dolphins news, insight and commentary year round.