The end of the NFL Draft in an instant-gratification age means all sorts of grades are being assigned to the Dolphins’ efforts, and never mind that not a single draftee has played a down of pro ball or, for that matter, participated in a single practice in Davie.

But there is plenty of information to judge the Dolphins’ drafting, only it’s the opportune time to rate the 2014-18 draft classes.

Complete coverage of the Dolphins' 2019 draft class

A few general thoughts after doing just that:

• This explains why the Dolphins are where they are — why they have figured out that the only way to build themselves up is to first tear things down.

• The Dolphins made several wise selections in those five years, including OT Laremy Tunsil, CB Xavien Howard, S Minkah Fitzpatrick and WR Jarvis Landry (and remember, this exercise is about the drafting process and not so much that the Dolphins have allowed the Landrys of the world to leave).

• They deserve credit for value picks such as RB Jay Ajayi, WR Jakeem Grant and K Jason Sanders.

• But they whiffed or at least wish they could have a do-over with far too many selections, ranging from guys who vanished far too soon to others hanging on by a thread to the youngest of the bunch, who have done little thus far to justify being chosen. But enough about Jordan Phillips.

• If you’re a Dolphins fan, you’ll want to hope the Class of 2019 is more like the Class of 2016 than 2015.

2014

First-round pick: T Ja’Wuan James.

Could have had instead: QB Teddy Bridgewater.

Others: WR Jarvis Landry (2), G Billy Turner (3), DB Walt Aikens (4), TE Arthur Lynch (5), LB Jordan Tripp (5), WR Matt Hazel (6), DE Terrence Fede (7).

Number making team: 7 (2 eventual starters).

Comment: The Dolphins have little left to show from this draft. The only player still around is Aikens, a leader on special teams. James was solid and Landry brought outstanding value in Round 2, but to have only one holdover five years later is poor. At least when Landry was traded to Cleveland, the Dolphins received picks that turned into TE Durham Smythe last year and RB Myles Gaskins this year. James is expected to bring a compensatory pick next year after signing with Denver as a free agent. This was the year former GM Dennis Hickey picked five players from smaller schools. Oddly enough, Turner, from North Dakota State, has improved to the point that he started for Denver last year and received $28 million over four years to join Green Bay. Turner was part of the problem on Miami’s offensive line; perhaps if he stayed, he might have been part of the solution.

Grade: C

2015

First-round pick: WR DeVante Parker.

Could have had instead: CB Marcus Peters, S Landon Collins.

Others: DT Jordan Phillips (2), G Jamil Douglas (3), CB Bobby McCain (5), RB Jay Ajayi (5), S Cedric Thompson (5), CB Tony Lippett (5).

Number making team: 6 (3 starters).

Comment: Thank goodness for McCain. Parker can’t stay healthy and has never consistently produced at the level expected. Ajayi was a terrific risk who panned out before being shipped out. At least the Dolphins acquired RB Kalen Ballage with the pick they received for Ajayi and added WR Kenny Stills from the Saints for a third-rounder. The Phillips selection was inexcusable. The Dolphins had just signed free-agent DT Ndamukong Suh and had far greater needs just about everywhere else, yet they spent a pick (a second-rounder!) on a player known as an underachiever who took plays off — the exact rep he had when the Dolphins parted with him. The other picks hardly warrant a mention, so we’ll oblige.

Grade: D

2016

First-round pick: OT Laremy Tunsil.

Could have had instead: WR Michael Thomas (as well as CB Xavien Howard, by the way).

Others: CB Xavien Howard (2), RB Kenyan Drake (3), WR Leonte Carroo (3), WR Jakeem Grant (6), CB Jordan Lucas (6), QB Brandon Doughty (7), TE Thomas Duarte (7).

Number making team: 8 (3 starters).

Comment: The Dolphins were fortunate when Tunsil fell to No. 13 and they deserve credit for not balking when the others ahead of them did. The real gem was unearthing Howard in the second round. Corners this good should never be available that late. This season, we’ll finally get an idea of how good Drake can be. The Dolphins also got nice value out of the Grant selection (when in doubt, especially late, always bank on speed). Also factoring into this is that Miami added LB Kiko Alonso and CB Byron Maxwell in a trade-down with the Eagles. The Dolphins haven’t received the kind of return they expected when they gave up three picks to trade up for Carroo, but he made several plays on special teams last season.

Grade: B-plus

2017

First-round pick: DE Charles Harris.

Could have had instead: LB T.J. Watt, S Buddha Baker, RB Alvin Kamara.

Others: LB Raekwon McMillan (2), CB Cordrea Tankersley (3), G Isaac Asiata (5), DT Davon Godchaux (5), DT Vincent Taylor (6), WR Isaiah Ford (7).

Number making team: 5 (2 starters).

Comment: Harris had two sacks as a rookie and one last year, a trend that doesn’t bode well for 2019. Given how many DEs have departed, the Dolphins badly need Harris to grow up in 2019. McMillan’s rookie year was wiped out by a knee injury, so this is a pivotal year for him as well. Tankersley’s confidence was shot last year. Asiata can’t get on the field (although there’s a ‘help wanted’ sign on the OL meeting room). Godchaux and Vincent offer hope. Ford also can’t get on the field. The Dolphins acquired DE William Hayes and TE Julius Thomas via trade by using picks from this draft. Both are already gone.

Grade: C-minus

2018

First-round pick: S Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Could have had instead: S Derwin James, QB Lamar Jackson.

Others: TE Mike Gesicki (2), LB Jerome Baker (3), TE Durham Smythe (4), RB Kalen Ballage (4), CB Cornell Armstrong (6), LB Quentin Poling (7), K Jason Sanders (7).

Number making team: 7 (3 starters).

Comment: Assuming he continues on this pace, Fitzpatrick should anchor Miami’s secondary for a decade. We barely got a glimpse of Ballage last season, but what we saw was impressive. To the untrained eye, the Dolphins had no reason to think Sanders was worth a pick, but what a pick he’s turning out to be. Too many teams don’t sweat kicker until they lose games because of it (yeah, this means you, Buccaneers). Baker’s sideline-to-sideline quickness offers promise. But the Dolphins have taken too many swings at a franchise tight end to count. After a rookie season that yielded 202 yards and zero touchdowns, Gesicki has miles to go. The Dolphins passed on TE Dallas Goedert, who despite playing on a team with Zach Ertz had 334 yards and four TDs for the Eagles as a rookie. The Dolphins also gave up a No. 4 to the Rams for DE Robert Quinn, who wasn’t as good as advertised and was one-and-done.

Grade: C

hhabib@pbpost.com

@gunnerhal