Indianapolis acquired cornerback Vontae Davis from Miami for…
Indianapolis acquired cornerback Vontae Davis from Miami for a 2013 second-round pick, with a conditional late-round selection included in the terms but ultimately not conveyed. Davis became a centerpiece of the Colts secondary and earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2014 and 2015. Miami used the second-rounder on Jamar Taylor, who never matched Davis's impact for the Dolphins. Indianapolis received the premium player and clearly won the exchange.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Vontae Davis
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2013 2nd round pick (54th overall, Jamar Taylor)
Trade Analysis
Indianapolis made this deal before the 2012 season because its rebuilt defense needed a proven outside cornerback. Vontae Davis was only 24, had already started extensively in Miami and possessed the physical traits to fit the Colts' new defensive direction. Indianapolis sent a 2013 second-round pick to the Dolphins, with an additional conditional late-round choice tied to Davis's playing time. The condition was not met, so Miami ultimately received only the second-rounder.
Davis's first season in Indianapolis was interrupted by injuries, but the trade paid off as he settled into the defense. By 2014 he had become one of the league's better cover corners, earning Pro Bowl honors that season and again in 2015. His ability to handle top receivers gave the Colts flexibility elsewhere in the secondary, and he remained a major defensive piece during a stretch in which Indianapolis repeatedly reached the postseason.
Miami used the acquired second-round selection, No. 54 in 2013, on cornerback Jamar Taylor. Taylor saw action for the Dolphins but never developed into the type of high-end starter Davis became. Miami later moved Taylor to Cleveland, so the draft return did not produce a lasting cornerstone.
The Dolphins did have understandable reasons to make the move. A new coaching staff was reshaping the roster, Davis's consistency had been questioned, and receiving a second-round choice for a player the organization was willing to part with was meaningful compensation. The issue is what happened afterward. Indianapolis bought several seasons of upper-tier cornerback play at a position of great value, while Miami's replacement path never came close to matching it.
Because the conditional selection was never conveyed, the Colts' cost was even cleaner than the original terms suggested. Davis's Pro Bowl peak and sustained starting value make Indianapolis the decisive winner.