Miami packaged picks No. 89, No. 115 and No. 121 to Arizona…
Miami packaged picks No. 89, No. 115 and No. 121 to Arizona for the No. 65 selection in the 1994 draft and used it on center Tim Ruddy. Ruddy played 156 NFL games, started 140 and spent his entire career with Miami, giving the Dolphins long-term stability in the middle of the offensive line.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1994 3rd round pick (89th overall, Eric England ), 1994 4th round pick (115th overall, Terry Irving ) and 1994 4th round pick (121st overall subsequently traded, John Burke )
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1994 2nd round pick (65th overall, Tim Ruddy )
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Miami packaged a third-round choice and two fourth-round choices to move up to No. 65 in the 1994 draft. Arizona accepted the quantity and gave up the second-round selection. The Dolphins used the pick on center Tim Ruddy, while the Cardinals received Nos. 89, 115 and 121, with the last of those selections later moved again.
What Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins Received
Ruddy became the defining piece of the deal. He played 156 NFL games, started 140 and spent his entire career with Miami, giving the Dolphins long-term stability in the middle of the offensive line. Arizona's three selections did not produce comparable team value. The package created several opportunities, but none developed into a player with Ruddy's combination of longevity and sustained starting responsibility.
How the Value Developed
Miami paid a real price in draft volume, which keeps Arizona's grade from the bottom of the scale. Three picks for one selection is a reasonable draft-day strategy when a roster wants more chances. The problem is the result: Miami identified a decade-long starter, while Arizona's added quantity did not create an equivalent contributor. The Dolphins therefore won both the player evaluation and the realized long-term value comparison.
Final Verdict
Miami Dolphins Win. Arizona Cardinals receives a C and Miami Dolphins receives a A. The result weighs only value tied to the assets each club actually controlled, including a later transaction when the acquired pick itself was moved. That keeps the comparison centered on team-specific football contribution rather than assigning another franchise's eventual selection to the wrong side.
Tim Ruddy became a 156-game, 140-start center who spent his entire career with Miami, while Arizona's three acquired selections never produced comparable team-specific value. The Dolphins therefore converted a costly move up into a decade-long offensive-line cornerstone. overall.