The Miami Dolphins clearly needed to address the tight end position this offseason, specifically with a pass-catching addition.
After being the lone NFL team to finish 2023 without a tight end touchdown, they did that immediately.
The Dolphins signed tight end Jonnu Smith the week before free agency opened up. Smith, the seven-year pro and former FIU standout, was available because he was released from the Atlanta Falcons.
Smith is now paired with longtime Dolphin Durham Smythe to form a tight end duo of pass-catcher and blocker, respectively. Along with that tandem, Miami added former Kansas City Chief Jody Fortson in free agency for further competition at the position.
While bringing in free agent tight ends, the Dolphins can’t be discounted from possibly eyeing one in the draft from April 25-27.
This year’s tight end class is touted as one having one elite prospect at the top, Georgia’s Brock Bowers.
With the Dolphins picking at No. 21 in the first round, it’s not likely at all that Bowers would fall to that spot. Maybe he could fall to a spot where Miami could realistically trade up to land him if coach Mike McDaniel wants him in his offense that bad. But that likely means shipping out the Dolphins’ second-round pick, as well. Without a third- or fourth-round pick, would Miami be willing to make Bowers the only player it drafts until the fifth round?
What seems more likely is to hold off on Bowers and possibly take another tight end later.
Once Bowers is off the board, there’s a drop-off in tight ends in the draft. So, as Miami and general manager Chris Grier generally take a best-player-available approach, they can possibly target an offensive lineman, defensive lineman or edge defender in the first round.
Should the Dolphins go tight end in Round 2, Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders could make sense. And McDaniel spoke with him directly at the NFL scouting combine, along with checking him out at the Longhorns’ pro day. So interest is there.
The addition of Smith this offseason gives the Dolphins a viable red-zone target at 6 foot 3. It’s something the offense was missing with the departure of Mike Gesicki, who saw a sharp decrease in snaps under McDaniel in 2022 but still had five touchdowns.
Smith can also take short passes and turn them into bigger gains with his run-after-the-catch ability. In 2023 with the Falcons, he had career highs with 50 receptions and 582 yards. It was a nice bounce back after two lackluster seasons with the New England Patriots, but in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans, he had a career-high eight touchdown catches.
While Smythe didn’t haul in a touchdown last season, he did record career highs with 35 receptions and 366 receiving yards. His blocking prowess will continue to make him a favorite of tight ends coach Jon Embree.
Fortson missed the 2023 season in Kansas City due to a preseason shoulder injury, so he’ll try to make his mark after tallying 14 receptions for 155 yards and four touchdowns between 2021 and 2022, while also contributing on special teams.
The Dolphins also return Julian Hill, who made the team last season as an undrafted rookie. Tanner Conner, who accomplished the same feat in 2022 but was on the practice squad last year, also has his chance to compete for a roster spot.
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