Achane repotedly staying: fallout, what Dolphins are doing. And options at No. 30

The Dolphins have agreed to trade one of the two most accomplished and explosive offensive weapons, but they’re telling teams that they won’t trade the other. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday that teams that have inquired about acquiring running back De’Von Achane have been told that he’s not available. Schefter’s report came on a day that Jaylen Waddle was in Denver to take a physical to complete a trade that will send the veteran receiver and a Dolphins fourth-round pick to the Broncos for picks in the first, third and fourth rounds. In his first interview after being named general manager, Jon Eric-Sullivan mentioned Achane, left tackle Patrick Paul, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer as building blocks for the future. Notably, he did not mention Waddle until prompted later in the interview. Achane told The Miami Herald late last season that a contract extension is important to him this offseason. He said he would have his agent, Leah Knight of Roc Nation, discuss it with the Dolphins. He would prefer to sign the deal instead of playing out next season on the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him $1.5 million. He seems positioned to receive something a bit more lucrative than the four-year, $48 million extension that James Cook signed with Buffalo last August; that deal included $30 million in guaranteed money. Achane led the NFL in yards per carry last season at 5.7, scored eight rushing touchdowns and was fifth in rushing yards with 1350. He missed one game, the finale, because of an injury, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He also had 67 catches for 488 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Statistically, it was one of the three best by a running back in Dolphins history, behind only two years from Ricky Williams. In his 44 career games (36 starts), Achane has rushed for 3,057 yards with 22 touchdowns and averaged a whopping 5.6 yards per carry. He also has caught 172 passes for 1,227 yards with 13 TDs. Sullivan indicated last month that he would have extension talks with Achane in the coming months. “He’s a marvelous player,” Sullivan said. “We want him to be part of this thing moving forward… De’Von Achane is a difference maker. He’s a three-down back, a home run [hitter]...We will have those conversations with him as well as some other guys as we move down the road, but that’s going to be later in the summer.” The Dolphins do not view what they’re doing as a tear-down because they are not looking to trade several young components that the new regime really likes. It’s also not a tank because the Dolphins are not intending to intentionally field a terrible team with the hope of landing a quarterback at the top of the 2027 draft; they believe Malik Willis has a chance to be their long-term quarterback. Among other players that Sullivan has identified as foundational pieces, Sullivan has said: “Center Aaron Brewer is a really good player. His ability to play in space [stands out]. He plays much bigger than his listed size. “[Linebacker] Jordyn Brooks is a really good player. He can run, good instincts, will strike you. Patrick Paul is a good left tackle…a huge man with length.” But Sullivan also said at the NFL Combine that even though “there are players that we see as building blocks as we move down the road... my job as the general manager is if the phone rings, I have to listen. Any player is tradable at a certain price, but there are certain guys that we definitely want to be part of the long-term future that are on this roster currently that we think are the right kind of guys.” The Dolphins now have two first-round picks with the Waddle trade – their own at 11 and Denver’s pick at No. 30. And coincidentally, the two most prominent draft analysts had Miami picking the same player – Auburn edge Keldric Faulk - in their mock drafts released Tuesday, after the Waddle news leaked. “Faulk is 6-6 and 276 pounds, and he has the power to toss blockers aside on his way to the quarterback, Kiper said. “He’d also boost the Dolphins’ run defense; he had 11 run stops last season. [Edge] has to be a focus at the draft. One concern: After producing 45 quarterback pressures and seven sacks in 2024, he generated only 30 pressures and two sacks last season. But he “has the versatility and athleticism to fit well in Jeff Hafley’s defense,” Jeremiah said. Other edge players projected for that 25 to 40 range, and thus potentially in Miami’s wheelhouse at 30, include Missouri’s Zion Young (6.5 sacks, 43 pressures last season), Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (11.5 sacks last season; could be off the board by 30), Clemson’s TJ Parker (21.5 sacks in three years at Clemson, including 5.5 last season; some analysts have him going in the teens), and Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas (probably more of an option at 43). Among other players who have been projected for that 30th overall range, give or take 10 spots: ▪ Receivers: Texas A&M KC Concepcion (61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns last season); Washington’s Denzel Boston (62-881-11 TDs), Alabama’s Germie Bernard (64-862-7 TDs) and Tennessee’s Chris Brazell II (62-1017-9). ▪ Offensive linemen: Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis (Jeremiah slots him 28th in his mock) and Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller (played 97 percent of his snaps on the right side in college and could eventually succeed Austin Jackson). It’s conceivable that Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor, Penn State guard Vega Ioane, or less likely, Utah tackle Caleb Lomu, could slip to 30. ▪ Tight ends: Nobody is projected for this range if Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is off the board, which is expected. ▪ Defensive tackles: Georgia’s Christen Miller (“active and quick and keeps getting better,” said Kiper, who mocks him 28th); and Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald “(“run stopping force on the interior,” says Jeremiah, who mocks him 31st). Kiper mocks Cisse 29th, adding that he “ showed off his explosiveness at the combine, jumping 41 inches in the vertical. He anticipates and closes well, with 12 pass breakups over the past two seasons. He could slide right into the starting lineup.” Hood had two picks for Colorado in 2024, one for Tennessee last season. And at six feet, Cisse and Hood fit the size prototype of Sullivan, who has signed only six-foot-plus cornerbacks since joining the Dolphins. Clemson’s Terrell, slotted 26th in Kiper’s mock this week, is 5-11; Kiper said he’s “great in man coverage, showing the ability to stick on receivers. He didn’t come away with any interceptions last season, but he broke up nine passes.” Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun and San Diego State’s Chris Johnson, at this point, are considered more likely options at 43. ▪ Safeties: Two projected for the late teens or 20s would be tempting if they slip to 30 – Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman. Cap update Per , the Dolphins will incur an immediate $26.3 million dead money hit for trading Waddle and need to clear $8.3 million off their cap before the trade to be executed. Teams must be cap compliant at all times during the offseason.