Miami Dolphins Missed Out By Not Making a Serious Bid for Anquan Boldin

Last week, Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round pick were traded from the Arizona Cardinals to the Baltimore Ravens for third- and fourth-round selections in the 2010 Draft. 

The move made sense for both sides. It gave the Cardinals value for the disgruntled receiver they would likely lose in a year anyway. And it gave the Ravens the play-making presence at the position they have so desperately sought for years.

The price wasn't too steep to acquire Boldin and the value was high enough for Arizona to justify making the deal. It was a win-win.

So why didn't the Miami Dolphins get involved? Their need for a wideout is arguably greater than the Ravens and yet even at a relatively reasonable asking price, Miami's front office wasn't even part of the bidding. 

Bill Parcells and Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland covet picks and feel a championship roster starts with the Draft. Free agency and trades are supplemental to Miami's plans. Are they wrong in their approach? 

No, they're absolutely right and their strategy is shared by most of the teams that contend for titles. The Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and even the Ravens are prime examples of the benefit of years of solid drafting. Those teams don't make many big trades or sign too many outsiders. They build from within and the results are obvious. 

But the Patriots still traded a fourth-round pick for Randy Moss. Baltimore pulled the trigger on Anquan Boldin. So why won't the Dolphins bend when the opportunity is worthwhile?

Its not as if there are a lot of options out there in free agency. Miami has been identified as a possible suitor for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant, but that would be nothing more than a band-aid. Even scarier is a look at the names available beyond the eight-year veteran.

Bryant has had a couple very productive seasons in this league, but he's also had six not so productive ones. Last season he was limited by a knee injury and finished with 600 receiving yards and four touchdowns. 

He'll be 29 next week and its safe to say he's reached his max potential. Bryant's real value is somewhere in-between his 83 catches for 1248 yards and seven touchdowns of 2008, and his 40 catches for 733 yard and three touchdowns of 2007. He's a nice wideout, but he isn't an elite option and he wouldn't turn the Dolphins' passing game around.

Boldin is an elite option though and he would've made all the difference in the world for this Dolphins' team if only they'd been willing to make a sacrifice in the draft. Miami's stingy attitude with picks is a reasonable one, but sometimes teams need to make adjustments when they're called for. 

Pursuing an All-Pro talent that meets one of your team's biggest needs is one of those times. Parcells and Ireland dropped the ball on this one.

Just like Ted Ginn Jr. did on so many occasions in 2009. Remember, he was touted by this staff as the answer a year ago. You have to wonder who they'll talk up this year. 

It should've been Anquan Boldin.