Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier Updates Miami Media

By: Jason Sarney

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier spoke to South Florida media Wednesday morning, and opened with a poignant, truthful, and emotional statement regarding Tuesday’s verdict in the George Floyd trial. I will not transcribe or pull quotes from it yet implore you too take a few moments and watch the opening when it appears on Dolphins social media channels. What I will quote is how he closed with inspirational words on how to bring people together and how to "value human life."

On to lighter topics of the game that is football, Grier was asked about the NFL Draft plans, as well as his reasoning behind the pick trades with San Francisco and Philadelphia within moments of each over it seemed.

Grier mentioned the work in progress both deals were, and in an overall sense how he does business told media, “we’ll always listen to everything, we’ve shown that." Grier adds, "you owe it to your organization to listen to all offers."

Following this statement shortly thereafter were some details on that Niners move back from #3 to #12. "We had had a number of teams call us coming up to three. "We were comfortable being where we were, and San Francisco was very aggressive."

Grier went on to praise a Hall of Fame player, and also the man running things in San Francisco. “John [Lynch] was great dealing with, he was very open and transparent." As we all know, Grier then moved back into the Top-6 in a deal with Philadelphia, praising their GM Howie Roseman as well.

The question still on minds of Miami fans all over the world is now what to do with their picks regardless of where they may end up on April 29th. "We've targeted a number of players we like," Grier said. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa heading into a fully healthy, pre-season enabled year-two, Grier is confident the draft will assist his development. However, Grier realizes the building process goes beyond one players, stating, “at the end of the day it always about the team, it’s not about one player, one person.”

Grier did take a chance to praise Tua’s work ethic in bouncing back and rehabbing as well as his further training this offseason. "He's healthy now, I've seen a couple of videos, I'm not on social media very much, but he's been working very hard." Grier also mentioned, “he’s been a winner everywhere he’s been.”

In wrapping up the presser, Grier was also asked about the Kyle Van Noy release and that led to some much needed and warranted praise for some fan favorite Dolphins. At first what seemed subliminal, as Grier said, “"For us, we had some young players that we're developing that we feel good about, and those players need to get on the field.”

Immediately this would lead anyone to realize this is a hidden praise of Andrew Van Ginkel, who excelled in his second pro season much to this author’s delight as well as no shock at all. Grier then mentioned both Andrew Van Ginkel as well as Mike Gesicki by name in players who have developed quicker than expected, thus spiking their value in an unforeseen way.

This coming week of preparation will look to find those next gems, and Miami’s War Room will be packed to NFL protocol with Covid rules. While the inner core of the front office will be in the same room, there is a max of 10 people in team War Rooms. Regardless of rules and restrictions in this specific year, one thing about the NFL Draft never changes, and Grier is well aware saying, "drafts change, as you know…People fall for reasons unknown, and teams select players for their needs."

This means that the War Room will never relax or rest as they shouldn’t with their treasure trove of assets to protect and grow.

"We’re going to keep adding young players and talent and we feel really good how things transpired for us.”

• Chris Grier