Miami sent running back Sammie Smith to Phoenix in September…
Miami sent running back Sammie Smith to Phoenix in September 1991 and received the Cardinals' 1992 first-round selection. That pick became No. 7 overall, which Miami used on cornerback Troy Vincent. Vincent immediately became a full-time starter and spent four seasons with the Dolphins, turning the exchange into a major upgrade after Smith's difficult Miami tenure.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Randal Hill
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1992 first round pick (#7-Troy Vincent)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Miami selected wide receiver Randal Hill in the first round of the 1991 draft, but his Dolphins stay lasted only through the opening week. On September 3, Miami sent Hill to Phoenix for the Cardinals' 1992 first-round choice. The Cardinals were betting that an immediate young receiver was worth surrendering an unknown future first, while Miami recovered premium draft capital from a selection it had quickly soured on.
What Phoenix Cardinals and Miami Dolphins Received
Phoenix's 1992 first-rounder became the seventh overall pick, and Miami selected cornerback Troy Vincent. Vincent immediately became a full-time starter and spent four seasons anchoring a Dolphins secondary before later adding Pro Bowl honors elsewhere. Hill's Cardinals tenure was short and did not approach that level of team-specific contribution, even though he later continued his NFL career with other clubs.
How the Value Developed
The trade is especially striking because Miami escaped a poor initial draft fit and converted it into a much stronger player one year later. The Dolphins did not merely recoup a first-round choice; they received a top-seven pick and turned it into a durable starting corner. Phoenix assumed nearly all of the downside by surrendering future premium capital for a player who did not establish comparable value in Arizona.
Final Verdict
Miami Dolphins Win. Vincent's four seasons as a Miami starter create a large, direct advantage over Hill's brief Cardinals return. Later accomplishments elsewhere are not needed to make the case, although Vincent's broader career reinforces the quality of the selection. Miami receives an A+ for turning a one-game first-round experiment into a premium replacement asset. Phoenix receives a D- because the surrendered first became far more valuable than Hill's contribution.
Vincent's four Miami seasons gave the Dolphins a dramatically stronger return than Phoenix ultimately received by a wide margin.