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The Miami Dolphins didn’t sell quite as hard as many NFL fans were expecting at the trade deadline. In fact, the 2-7 third-place Fins only shipped off one asset. That asset was 2021 first-round draft pick Jaelan Phillips. Phillips has struggled to stay healthy in his NFL career, playing in just 55 of a possible 85 games over four and a half seasons. He did not mince words when asked about the deal that sent the Miami Dolphins’ draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick. “This is literally the greatest thing that’s happened to me in my whole life,” the 26-year-old said to a room of reporters. “The guys are awesome; everybody’s been super welcoming. I love the environment here; I love the vibe here.” He then went on to explain all the ways in which Philadelphia fans have made him feel more loved than Miami fans ever did, his words not mine. “The city of Philly has given me a very warm welcome,” he continued. “I got about 20 times the amount of Instagram likes than I’ve ever gotten on a post before, so shout out to Philly fans.” General Manager Howie Roseman Calls Jaelan Phillips Trade a No-Brainer A third-round pick is a great return for an edge rusher who was playing in a contract year. That makes this deal an A+ for the Dolphins, but, unsurprisingly, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman thinks the Birds came out on the right side as well. “Just for us, where we are as a team,” Roseman said, “what we believe is important to winning a world championship and to being a great team, it really wasn’t a hard trade to make.” Roseman said he and his staff spent a considerable amount of time scouting the former first-rounder when he was at college in Miami. The Eagles ended up going with Devonta Smith at 10th overall in that draft, and the rest is history. “With all these guys, the process starts with college, and we spent a lot of time with [Phillips] coming out of college knowing the person,” Roseman said. “It’s really easy to scout the player. He’s got freak ability, he can rush, he can set the edge, he can play in space. He’s got a nonstop motor. I think one of the most fun things to do is put on his tape and watch his effort.” Head Coach Mike McDaniel Reveals How Decision Was Made A unique challenge the Dolphins faced this trade deadline was carrying out proceedings without a general manager. Former general manager Chris Grier was fired five days before the trade block closed. This meant the Dolphins’ front office was fielding trade offers without a GM. Mike McDaniel told reporters that a decision was made via a collaborative effort from many inside the building. “It was a collaboration of myself, Champ (Kelly) and Brandon Shore,” McDaniel said of the decision to trade Phillips. “We were all in agreement.”
