Miami moved up from No. 70 to No. 56 in the 1987 draft,…
Miami moved up from No. 70 to No. 56 in the 1987 draft, sending St. Louis the third-round choice plus No. 126. The Dolphins selected receiver and returner Scott Schwedes, who played 46 NFL games and contributed on offense and special teams. The Cardinals used their picks on Colin Scotts and John Bruno, who combined for little sustained NFL value. Miami obtained the only meaningful multi-year contributor.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1987 third round pick (#70-Colin Scotts)
- pick 1987 fifth round pick (#126-John Bruno)
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1987 second round pick (#56-Scott Schwedes)
Trade Analysis
Why Miami Moved Up
Miami wanted Scott Schwedes and climbed from No. 70 to No. 56 to select him, sending St. Louis a fifth-round pick in addition to the third-round swap. The Dolphins paid for better access to the second round. The Cardinals accepted the trade-down and doubled their number of selections from the exchange.
What Miami Received
Schwedes played 46 NFL games and contributed as both a receiver and returner. His offensive numbers were modest, but he provided real roster value across multiple seasons and added special-teams utility. That is not a spectacular second-round outcome, yet it is a legitimate one and gave Miami a player who could fill more than one role.
What Arizona Received
The Cardinals used No. 70 on Colin Scotts and No. 126 on John Bruno. Scotts appeared in seven NFL games, started three and recorded two sacks. Bruno played only a handful of games. The trade-down therefore failed to produce the depth advantage St. Louis was seeking; two selections yielded less sustained value than Miami received from one.
How the Value Settled
Miami's move-up cost an extra fifth-rounder, which prevents the deal from becoming a major victory. Still, the Dolphins landed the only player in the transaction who stayed in the league for several seasons. Arizona's two chances did not create a long-term starter or even equivalent aggregate playing time.
Final Verdict
Miami wins with a B- grade, while Arizona receives a D+. Schwedes was a useful but unspectacular pro, which limits the Dolphins' ceiling. The Cardinals' return was much thinner, and the failure of both incoming picks leaves Miami with the clear advantage in realized NFL value.