The Miami Dolphins are embracing a rebuild, and the next player to go for draft picks could be star running back De’Von Achane. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texas A&M product has become one of the league’s most dangerous all-around weapons and was one of the few bright spots on the 2025 Miami Dolphins. Despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play and poor blocking, Achane finished the year with 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while adding another 67 receptions for 488 yards and four touchdowns. His 5.7 yards per attempt led the league, and Achane proved he can thrive in suboptimal conditions.
Miami fired head coach Mike McDaniel in the offseason and began rebuilding the team from scratch, cutting Tua Tagovailoa and trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a first-round pick. Of the players still on the roster, De’Von Achane could probably fetch the largest return if Miami were looking for another trade. However, ESPN’s Dan Graziano says the team views Achane as a “foundational” player and won’t even entertain a trade unless they could get a first-round pick for his services.
Report: Dolphins Won’t Trade De’Von Achane For Anything Less Than First-Round Pick
First and foremost, it’s hard to imagine any team surrendering a first-round pick for De’Von Achane. While he is one of the most electric running backs in football, he’s still just a running back. The position has seen an uptick in perceived value, but sending a top-32 selection for a running back heading into a contract season is poor team building – especially considering the perceived talent in the 2027 NFL Draft. While a lot can change between now and draft days, most analysts across the league believe next year’s crop of prospects will be one of the best in recent memory. Chances are, no team would be willing to give up a realistic shot at an elite prospect for a running back needing a new contract.
Assuming the Dolphins won’t trade De’Von Achane, it’s safe to assume they’ll try to extend him as soon as possible. Miami bit the bullet by releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and enduring his massive cap hit. However, the Dolphins should have plenty of spending money after this season, which means Achane shouldn’t leave the Dolphins anytime soon. However, the real question is whether Miami’s opinion on the situation will change in the coming months.
Trade Deadline Sale
As of this posting, it’s safe to assume Miami is telling the truth when they say they won’t trade De’Von Achane for anything less than a first-round pick. While this team lacks talent, nobody is willing to completely punt on their season before Week 1. After all, the NFL is notoriously difficult to predict, and nobody thought the New England Patriots would make the Super Bowl last year. However, assuming the season goes as we all expect and Miami is out of the playoff picture by mid-October, they could re-evaluate their stance on Achane.
While the best-case scenario involves extending him in the offseason, the Dolphins will likely try to keep an open line of communication with their star running back throughout the season. If the two sides aren’t close to reaching an agreement, then Miami might decide to trade De’Von Achane and maximize its return for his services. Letting him walk in free agency is unacceptable, and if they can’t extend him, they might as well get a second- or third-round pick for him. The other option would be to use the franchise tag, which they might not want to do since linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer are also set to reach the open market.
