When he got the call from the Miami Dolphins, Christian Wilkins jumped up and started walking with a bounce in his step that led to a roar as he walked onto the Nashville stage.
“Let’s go!” the Clemson defensive tackle yelled.
He then jumped in the air to body-bump NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who reacted as awkwardly as any middle-aged man would.
“I had to beat him up a little bit — I was too excited,” Wilkins said. “This is awesome. This is great.”
There you had it in his opening scene: Energy? Excitement? Instant impact?
The newest Dolphin introduced himself with all of that Thursday evening. There’s no question the Dolphins can use him. But they can also use a quarterback, and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins or Missouri’s Drew Lock were on the board.
If Haskins, who was drafted 15th by Washington, becomes a star, Wilkins won’t be good enough no matter how well he plays. But here’s the quick way to change that conversation right now:
Trade for Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Josh Rosen.
That’s who the Dolphins should be in hot pursuit to get right now. That would bring a two-fold win to this draft night.
“We’re investigating all avenues,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said about Rosen. “We’re looking at all options.”
The night began with Kyler Murray going first to Arizona. That officially opened the question of how interested the Dolphins are in trading for Rosen.
The Dolphins, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers did the most work on Rosen, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted just before the draft. The Giants took Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with their sixth pick. So they’re out.
Another team in the mix, if desired, would be New England. They have 12 draft picks this year. Not even half that number can make their roster. If the Patriots’ Bill Belichick likes Rosen, he has the poker chips to trade for him that the Dolphins can’t with 12 picks.
It’s telling the Dolphins’ brain trust of Grier, coach Adam Gase and vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum only agreed on Baker Mayfield at the top of the draft last year. They couldn’t reach a consensus on the other top quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Rosen.