Expect Nothing From The Tight Ends This Year

Expect Nothing From The Tight Ends This Year

Last Jonnu Smith set the team single-season records for the tight end position. Smith had one year left on his contract, and he wanted a new deal, but the Miami Dolphins weren’t willing to give him one. I understood why the Dolphins didn’t pay because Smith had been a journeyman tight end, never having had a season before last year of 50 catches, over 700 yards, etc.

Smith was caught up in a cost-cutting move by the Dolphins, who have been tightening their expenses this year, and was traded, along with Jalen Ramsey, to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

The problem is the Dolphins don’t have a pass-catching threat to replace Smith. The Dolphins must have known about Smith wanting a new deal and knew they weren’t going to pay him, but failed to find another tight end. Yes, the Dolphins traded for Darren Waller, but the problem is that he retired from football a year ago, and they traded for him in late July.

The Dolphins put him on the PUP list to get him in football shape, which I understood at first, but then he didn’t play in the preseason and started practicing just over a week ago, and now he won’t play in the season opener because of a hip injury. This is already looking like a wasted acquisition. I should give this some time, but I don’t think it will work out.  

The Dolphins have Jullian Hill returning, but he’s a blocking tight end and hasn’t seen him do much as a receiver. They also have Tanner Connor, but he is now in his 4th season and hasn’t done anything in the regular season in that time. There are also two players on the practice squad, Hayden Rucci and Greg Dulcich, who were recently signed after the New York Giants released them.