Miami football hasn't produced 1st round picks in consecutive drafts since 2017

Miami has not produced a first round pick in consecutive NFL Drafts since 2017. The 2017 NFL Draft ended a three-year streak of Miami players selected in the first round. Miami has not produced a first-round pick since 2021. That streak will continue in 2024 when the NFL Draft commences on Thursday.

At one time, the Miami football program held records for the most consecutive years with first-round picks and the most players drafted in the opening round of the NFL Draft. Miami has struggled to produce first-round picks since 2008. Miami produced a first-round pick from 1995 through 2008.

Miami had six players selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Alabama tied the Miami record for most first-round picks in the same NFL Draft in 2021. The Crimson Tide broke the Miami record of consecutive years with a first-round pick in 2023 at 15. Only six players from Miami have been selected in the first round since 2009.

Flowers ended a seven-year drought for Miami in the first round when he was selected ninth overall by the New York Giants in the 2015 NFL Draft. Before Flowers, the last first-round pick from Miami was safety Kenny Phillips in the 2008 NFL Draft, 31st overall, also to the Giants.

Dorsett was selected 29th overall in 2015 by the Indianapolis Colts. Neither Dorsett nor Flowers came close to reaching their status as first-round picks. Dorsett never had more than 32 receptions or five touchdowns in a single season. Through his first three seasons Flowers allowed the most pressures in the NFL.

Flowers and Dorsett were followed by cornerback Artie Burns in 2015 and tight end David Njoku in 2016. Burns was selected 25th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers and was 29th a year later by the Cleveland Browns. Edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau are the last first-round picks from Miami.

Phillips was selected 18th overall by the Dolphins and Rousseau went 31st to the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Miami is going to return to being an elite program, they have to resume producing first-round picks and have multiple players selected on a near-annual basis.