The Miami Dolphins have a rich history of success, but not recently. They have made the playoffs just twice since 2002 and have not won a Super Bowl since the 1973 season.

Miami is hoping that Tua Tagovailoa can lead their rebuild and turn the franchise around quickly. The Dolphins have been busy both in free agency and in the trade market. This is something that is now new to the team.

The Dolphins have always been clever when making trades. This dates back to the beginning of the franchise. It is only natural that we think about the best transactions ever done by Miami. Here are the top five trades in Dolphins’ history.

5. Paul Warfield

Warfield began his career with the Cleveland Browns in 1964 and was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. After eight years in Cleveland, Warfield was sent to the Dolphins in 1970. Miami gave Cleveland a first round pick and that is the reason this trade is not higher on the list.

Ultimately, it is on the list because Warfield enjoyed a nice career over his five years in Miami. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 11 in 1971. During his five years in Miami, Warfield was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro selection. He totaled 156 catches and 33 touchdowns.

In 1975, Warfield played for the Memphis south men of the World Football League. He would return to the NFL in 1976 with two ore years in Cleveland before retiring. Warfield was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

4. Randal Hill

This is the lone spot on the list that features the Miami sending a player away rather than receiving one. The Dolphins drafted Hill in the first round in 1991. He lasted just one game on the team before being dealt for a first round pick in 1992. The Dolphins looked at this trade as a defensive move. They were a team in need of defensive help and that is what they intended to do with that draft pick.

Miami used this first round pick in 1992 on Troy Vincent. While the cornerback is known for his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was productive for the Dolphins over his first four years in the league. Vincent totaled 14 interceptions including five in 1994 and 1995. The Dolphins were the clear winners of this trade.

Hill spent eight years in the NFL and never had a season with 900 or more yards. He returned to the Dolphins in 1995 for two years but never lived up to the hype. He totaled 669 yards and four touchdowns in two years in Miami. Vincent was a premiere corner during his time in the league and it all began with the Dolphins.

3. Larry Little

The Dolphins completely swindled their business partners on two deals during 1969. It began when they sent Mack Lamb to San Diego in exchange for offensive lineman Larry Little. After Lamb was traded from Miami, he never played in the league again. For Little, it was quite the opposite.

Little was a staple along the Dolphins offensive line during their most successful years. He was apart of two championship teams in Miami. In 12 years, Little was a five-time First Team All-Pro selection. During his time in the league, Little was an enforcer along the offensive line. He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1993.

The trade for Little was one of two for a Hall of Famer in 1969. Little was responsible for protecting many elite quarterbacks and opening holes for some great running backs during his tenure. This changed the dynamic of the Dolphins and turned them into a championship team.

2. Nick Buoniconti

After Little, there was Buoniconti. The Boston Patriots made a massive blunder when they sent Buoniconti to Miami. On the other side, the Dolphins made one of the best moves in history when they sent linebacker John Bramlett, quarterback Kim Hammond, and a fifth round pick to the Patriots.

First, let’s look at what the Dolphins gave up in the deal. Hammond played just three games with the Patriots and totaled 31 yards. He never threw a touchdown in his career and played a total of six games. Bramlett played 26 games for Boston in two years before finishing his career in Atlanta in 1971.

The Dolphins received a defensive star that would turn into their leader during two Super Bowl runs. Buoniconti spent seven years in Miami. He was a four-time First Team All-Pro member while in Boston but he is remembered as a Dolphin because of winning.

Buoniconti was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2001. This is the best trade that the Dolphins ever made for a player. The top spot is to the biggest name in team history.

1. Don Shula

A deal is considered a trade when a team receives something in return for giving something away. Even though the Dolphins did not receive a player in this deal, it is still close enough to be considered a trade.

Following the 1969 season, Miami signed Don Shula to be their head coach. This was ruled illegal by the NFL after tampering charges were place on the Dolphins. Were these allegations legitimate? That is still up for debate. Regardless, Miami could not sign Shula until they sent a first round pick in 1970 to the Baltimore Colts.

That draft pick ended up being running back Don McCauley. He played 11 years in the NFL but did not come close to having the impact that Shula had.

Shula was on the sidelines for the Dolphins for 26 years. He led them to two Super Bowl championships and 16 seasons with 10 or more wins. The 1972 Dolphins, led by Shula, are still the only undefeated team in NFL history. In 26 years under Shula, Miami had just two seasons where they finished below .500.

Shula was a head coach in the NFL for 33 years total. He won 328 regular season games which is the most all time by a head coach in the league. He would add 19 more wins in the postseason. Shula was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997 and is considered one of the best coaches of all time.