Back in 2020, the Miami Dolphins tried to swing for the fences. According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they put together a blockbuster offer - four first-round picks - in hopes of landing the No. 1 overall pick and drafting Joe Burrow.
The Cincinnati Bengals, holding that top selection, didn’t flinch. They weren’t moving off their guy.
Looking back, that decision reshaped two franchises - and maybe even a third.
The Dolphins actually nudged the Bengals closer to Burrow without realizing it. In Week 16 of the 2019 season, Miami pulled off an overtime win against Cincinnati, which helped lock the Bengals into the top spot in the 2020 draft.
Then, in a twist of irony, the Dolphins knocked off the Patriots in Week 17 - a game that turned out to be Tom Brady’s final regular-season appearance in a New England uniform. That win pushed Miami down to No. 5 in the draft order, effectively removing them from Burrow contention.
At that point, the Bengals’ path was clear. Burrow had just wrapped up a historic season at LSU, throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns en route to a national championship. Cincinnati had their franchise quarterback in sight, and no offer - not even one loaded with first-rounders - was enough to sway them.
Miami, meanwhile, pivoted to Plan B. With Justin Herbert still on the board, the Dolphins went with Tua Tagovailoa, the talented but injury-questioned quarterback out of Alabama. Fast forward five years, and the gap between Burrow and Tagovailoa has widened - and not in the Dolphins’ favor.
After a breakout 2023 campaign under Mike McDaniel, where Tagovailoa led the league with 4,624 passing yards, it looked like Miami had finally found their guy. But 2024 has been a different story.
Tagovailoa has struggled with consistency and turnovers, posting an 88.5 passer rating and throwing 15 interceptions. The Dolphins, sitting at 6-8 and out of the playoff picture, have decided to bench him for Sunday’s game - a matchup that just so happens to be against Burrow and the Bengals.
Instead, rookie Quinn Ewers will get the start in a game that won’t impact the postseason but could signal a turning point for the Dolphins’ quarterback future. It’s a tough moment for Miami, who now faces a critical offseason with big questions about Tagovailoa’s long-term role.
For the Patriots - who watched their dynasty begin to unravel after that Week 17 loss to Miami in 2019 - the ripple effects are just as real. Had the Dolphins landed Burrow, the AFC East might look drastically different today.
But Cincinnati stood firm. They bet on Burrow, and five years later, it’s clear they made the right call.