5 Creative Moves the Miami Dolphins Can Pull on Draft Day

When you've made as many trades as general manager Dennis Hickey has this offseason, you can imagine why it might be difficult to come up with even more creative scenarios that might unfold. 

Between wide receiver Mke Wallace to linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, the Miami Dolphins have been one of the league's most creative teams this offseason with regards to trades. 

And if there are any dreams of trades dancing through Hickey's head, he'd better do them while he can, because there's no certainty he'll have another chance to pull them off in the future with Mike Tannenbaum breathing down his neck. 

The seat is heating up for Hickey, head coach Joe Philbin and others in Miami, so here's a look at some creative ways the Dolphins' regime of the present can cement itself as the regime of the future.

Trade into the Top 10

The Dolphins have done it before, and they'll do it again. They traded up to the No. 3 spot in the 2013 draft to select linebacker Dion Jordan, and two years later, they could be trading into the top 10 once again.

According to Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, the Dolphins are "already reaching out to other clubs in an effort to gauge what it might cost to move into the top 10 this year." The target of their affection appears to be West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White. 

Widely regarded as one of the top wide receiver prospects in this year's class, White has the frame (6'3", 215 pounds) that the Dolphins currently lack on the perimeter. He ran a ridiculous 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, one of the five fastest times among wide receivers. His 23 bench press reps were also among the five best at his position and are indicative of his ability to get away from press coverage at the line of scrimmage.

White may not be as polished as Alabama's Amari Cooper, the consensus No. 1 receiver in the class, but he may have the best upside of anyone available. 

Trade out of the 1st Round

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Make no mistake; the likelihood of the Dolphins trading out of the first round is right around one in a million. So, you're telling me there's a chance.

Dolphins fans won't be quite as excited as Lloyd Christmas if they learn of the Dolphins moving out of the first round. This offseason has the markings of a "win-now" mentality, with the megadeal for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and the trade that acquired wide receiver Kenny Stills from the New Orleans Saints.

The Dolphins could use the extra ammunition for more depth on the offensive and defensive lines, but at some positions such as cornerback and guard, the problem isn't the depth, it's the starters.

Besides, the Dolphins have almost always focused on building the top of their roster more than building depth. This year's draft should continue that trend.

Trade for Minnesota Vikings Running Back Adrian Peterson

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What a blockbuster this would be. 

Ordinarily, the Dolphins have avoided players with off-field issues. This offseason signing of Suh seems to signal a shift in that philosophy, or at least a temporary withdrawal of it. 

The Dolphins would be in the middle of a three-ring media circus if they were to trade for Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the all-star running back who was suspended last year following an incident in which he used abusive discipline on his four-year-old son. Peterson has been reinstated by the NFL, though, and it may be time for the Vikings to entertain trade offers for their talented runner.

Between Lamar Miller, Mike Gillislee, LaMichael James and Damien Wiliams, the Dolphins have more than enough scatbacks who do their best work in the open field. They need a hard-nosed, between-the-tackles running back to complement that group. Peterson is the perfect back for what the Dolphins need.

That last statement only holds true if Peterson is able to reach his old form. He had an historic 2012 campaign after tearing his ACL, and he followed it up with a solid though less prolific 2013 campaign. After playing only one game in 2014 and after hitting the 30-year-old plateau this offseason, who knows whether Peterson will be the same back in 2015 and beyond that he's been throughout his career.

Trade Dion Jordan

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In 2013, the Dolphins moved into the No. 3 spot in the draft to take linebacker Dion Jordan. Two years later, they still have no idea what to do with him.

It makes sense; he was projected by most to be a good fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the Dolphins have had a hard time finding a role for him in their 4-3 front. He's been primarily a defensive end, though he's played some linebacker for them as well. 

Maybe the Dolphins finally have a vision for him. With so many shake-ups at linebacker this offseason, between the release of Philip Wheeler and the trading of Dannell Ellerbe, perhaps the plan is for Jordan to slide into the strong-side linebacker spot. That being said, the duo of Jelani Jenkins and Koa Misi is the most likely duo to find itself on the field together in nickel packages.

Unless the Dolphins suddenly have big plans for Jordan, they may be wise to pounce if a 3-4 team comes along and offers them some kind of value for Jordan's services.

Trade into 2016

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Again, it's very difficult to see the Dolphins trading into 2016, given the status of Hickey and Philbin on the hot seat.

If they've been given any kind of assurance of long-term job stability, that would be big news. Most likely, they are living on the edge this season and will need a strong finish to keep their jobs.

That being said, the teams that contend year-in and year-out are the ones that keep their eyes on the future instead of being locked in on the present. The Dolphins' other moves indicate that they are gearing up for a playoff push this season, but if they are content with what they've done and think they can contend given their current lineup, it wouldn't be out of the question to trade some of their 2015 picks to acquire more capital for 2016.