The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its nine-part series previewing top players in the 2024 NFL draft (April 25-27) with the tight ends.
This year’s crop of tight ends is decidedly top-heavy with Georgia’s Brock Bowers being the consensus No. 1 and sole first-round prospect. After Bowers, the class is still good through three rounds.
The Miami Dolphins, the NFL’s only team without a receiving touchdown by a tight end last season, are OK at tight end.
They have returning veteran Durham Smythe, an in-line, or blocking tight end who was a Pro Bowl alternate last season and newly-signed veteran Jonnu Smith, a receiving tight end. Miami also has second-year player Julian Hill, talented but still developing Tanner Conner, and newly-signed veteran Jody Fortson.
But is OK good enough?
The Dolphins, you’ll recall, have six selections in this draft. Miami has one selection in the first round (No. 21), one in the second (No. 55), one in the fifth (No. 158), two in the sixth (Nos. 184 and 198), and one in the seventh (No. 241).
Here’s a breakdown of the top tight ends in the draft:
Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bowers (6-3, 243), a back-to-back winner of the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, is a do-it-all player who excels as a receiver in any situation. He’s strong, athletic and aggressive, which allows him to beat single coverage, go up and make catches, and break tackles after the catch.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Sanders (6-4, 245) is good at making plays all over the field but he runs especially well between the hash marks and excels at making contested catches. He plays well from the slot, but his in-line, or blocking skills could use some polishing.
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Sinnott (6-4, 250) is an old-school tight end in the sense that he’s a good run blocker who is also a good receiving option in red-zone and goal-line situations. He’s also a new-school tight end in the sense that he’s athletic.
Jared Wiley, TCU
Wiley (6-6, 249) is also a new-school tight end who works comfortably out of the slot and is a good third-down option because he knows how to utilize his long arms to his advantage. He’s also a good run blocker. But his strength is his ability to catch the ball and be physical while running routes.
Theo Johnson, Penn State
Johnson (6-6, 259) is a good Day 3 prospect who is better at receiving than blocking. His route-running needs work and so does his blocking. But he could develop into a solid rotational player.
Best of the rest
Florida State’s Jaheim Bell is athletic and tough but needs to work on his blocking; Ohio State’s Cade Stover is an athletic receiving tight end who can go up and get the ball; Iowa’s Erick All is athletic but a medical risk after sustaining season-ending back and knee injuries the past two years; Michigan’s A.J. Barner is an in-inline/blocking tight end who is a limited receiver.
Class Grade: B
This is a good class that can fill various team needs at a starting level through three rounds. This class is receiver-heavy with Bowers, Sanders, Wiley, Johnson, Stover and Holker all being quality receivers who excel in specific situations. Sinnott is the only one whose blocking is equal to, or possibly exceeds his receiving.
Teams in need
New York Jets, Cincinnati, Carolina, Miami, Washington, Houston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, San Francisco
Dolphins’ focus
The Dolphins need a red-zone and third-down threat who is also a goal-line option. Between Smythe and Smith, the Dolphins have two good complementary players but neither is a player who concerns the opposing defense in any particular receiving situation (third down, red zone, goal line, etc). Recent draft history and recent tight end usage suggests if Georgia’s Bowers doesn’t fall to the Dolphins at No. 21, and that’s highly unlikely, they won’t draft a tight end in the first two rounds.
More 2024 NFL draft coverage
Dolphins could draft a high-quality O-lineman (Armstead’s successor?) in first two rounds
Dolphins NFL draft options: Offensive line
Dolphins NFL draft options: Running backs
