5 trade targets the Miami Dolphins should pursue before the season

The Dolphins’ front office has shown no hesitation in raiding their old stomping ground, with general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley continuing to bring in players who once wore green and gold in Green Bay.

With the tight end room still short of a long-term answer and the secondary in need of reinforcements, here are five trade targets who should find their way to Hard Rock Stadium before the season is out.

Tucker Kraft, tight end

The pathway from Green Bay to Miami will forever be open, as long as this regime is at Hard Rock Stadium.

From Malik Willis to Kyle McCord, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley continue to pick up guys who have played football for the Packers in the last few years.

Like cornerback, the tight end room is one that could do with improving.

Greg Dulchich was extended for another season but he’s not their guy. Two tight ends were drafted in Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore but both will play different roles in their rookie season and of the two, Traore is the bigger project so his playing time may be limited.

Kraft is coming off an ACL injury and with a deal in Green Bay somewhat likely, this particular trade is a long shot.

But Kraft is on the final year of his rookie deal and the longer a contract is not signed, the more chance the Dolphins make their move.

Luke Musgrave, tight end

If Kraft extends his stay in Green Bay, fellow 2023 draftee Luke Musgrave could be moved on.

Former Miami Dolphin Jonnu Smith recently signed a one-year deal with the Packers and is likely to back up Kraft, pushing Musgrave to TE3.

A player whose strengths lie in stretching the field as a downfield target, Musgrave missed the pre-season with a neck injury and will begin the season on the PUP list.

The Packers expect him to play in 2026 but Musgrave failed to make a case to replace Kraft last season when he was out with an ACL.

The ex-second round pick finished with only 24 receptions on 31 targets for 252 yards and zero touchdowns in 17 regular-season games last season.

Contrast that to the start of his Packers career. Selected a round before Kraft, Musgrave won the starting job in training camp and was on pace for 56 receptions as a rookie.

Injuries have derailed his time in Green Bay and it may be best for all if he found himself a new home in the next 12 months.

Should he return after Week 5 from the PUP list, JES and Hafley may decide to pick up the phone and offer Musgrave a lifeline in aqua – similar to what they did with Willis.

Brian Thomas Jr, wide receiver

Long-time listeners of GTD will have heard Brian Thomas Jr’s name come up a few times in the past 12 months as a player the Dolphins should trade for.

It made more sense prior to the draft, before the selections of Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell Jr and Kevin Coleman Jr.

But there is no certainty that the trio will take the leap at the next level and it is a room severely lacking in experience.

The former regime made it known publicly they looked at BTJ prior to the draft but opted to draft Chop Robinson at 21 – the wide receiver went two picks later.

A stellar showing in Week 1 of the season against the Dolphins, which included a touchdown in a 20-17 loss, had fans fearing the Dolphins made the wrong choice – even if Robinson impressed as a rookie.

However, things have not quite worked out for the Jacksonville Jaguar and with Parker Washington’s emergence, the Jags may find it is easier to move on from the 2023 first round pick instead of extending him.

Thomas Jr could carve out a WR2 role in Jacksonville or, should he make the switch to Hard Rock Stadium, a similar role behind Bell Jr who is likely to become WR1.

Head coach Liam Coen has even gone as far as to shut down any trade rumours and they have turned down approaches for BTJ.

But things change in the NFL quickly, so never say never.

Deonte Banks, cornerback

“Perimeter corner with desired blend of size, strength and athleticism,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in 2023 about cornerback Deonte Banks. “However, he struggles to play with poise and awareness when his back is to the football.”

After three underwhelming seasons with the New York Giants, Banks looks like a player that could do with a change of scenery to get his NFL career going.

Following a good showing against the Dolphins in Week 2 of pre-season, in which he recorded two PBUs and two tackles, Banks looks like he may have turned the corner in New York.

And on the back of an overall good training camp, the Giants could be tempted to hold on to him and hope he can bring this new-found form into the season.

Or they could capitalise on his trade value while it’s on the up.

With a Dolphins secondary devoid of talent, Banks could carve out a starting role opposite rookie Chris Johnson.

Banks’ special teams value also makes this a trade you could see JES execute.

Emmanuel Forbes, cornerback

Despite being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Forbes is already on his second roster.

Having been cut by the Washington Commanders after only two seasons, Forbes was picked up by the Rams.

After a strong start, the cornerback has found himself on the outside looking in and will all but certainly be on his third team by 2027 after the Rams declined his fifth year option.

While there is logic in letting him stick with the Rams for the season and making a move in free agency to not give up draft picks, bringing him in now would give the Dolphins an entire season to take a look at him before making a decision on letting him test FA or extending him.

The fact he wasn’t included in the Tutu Atwell trade during pre-season — when the Dolphins instead acquired Jaquez Hunter, only to cut him and re-sign him to the practice squad — suggests they’re unlikely to be interested.

But again, there is little to no depth at corner in Miami and the former first round pick will want to put some impressive film on tape in the next few months.