Dolphins Position Preview: Tight Ends
With training camp hitting a major step with the start of practices in pads, let's update the quarterback position by examining the 2019 performance, the offseason changes on the roster and what to expect over the next few weeks.
PLAYERS AT POSITION ON THE ROSTER: Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Chris Myarick, Adam Shaheen, Nate Wieting
2020 TRANSACTIONS: Signed Michael Roberts as a free agent (Feb. 19) ... Clive Walford became an unrestricted free agent (March 18) ... Signed Bryce Sterk as an undrafted rookie free agent (April 29) ... Acquired Adam Shaheen from Chicago for a 2021 conditional seventh-round pick (July 26) ... Waived/non-football injury Michael Roberts (July 27) ... Claimed Nate Wieting off waivers from Cleveland (Aug. 10) ... Waived Bryce Sterk (Aug. 13)
KEY 2019 STATS: Mike Gesicki 51 catches, 570 yards (11.2 avg.), 5 TDs; Durham Smythe 7 catches, 65 yards (9.3 avg.); Clive Walford 4 catches, 57 yards (14.3 avg.)
2019 RECAP: As the Dolphins showed dramatic improvement in the second half of the season, it definitely showed in the production of the tight ends, specifically Mike Gesicki. The 2018 second-round pick from Penn State scored five touchdowns in the final six games after failing to get into the end zone in his first 26 NFL games. Included in that strong finish was a two-touchdown game in the Week 16 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals and, of course, the game-winning touchdown at Gillette Stadium in the Week 17 stunner against the Patriots. Even though Gesicki got the most playing time at tight end, it actually was fellow 2018 draft pick Durham Smythe who had the most starts with 11. Smythe, though, caught only seven passes as his role was mostly contained to blocking. Nick O'Leary, who is sidelined for the 2020 season after undergoing heart surgery, and Clive Walford also were part of the 2019 roster, but neither made much of an impact in their limited time with the team.
RELATED: O'Leary Sidelined for 2020 Season
THE TOP CAMP STORYLINE: With Gesicki firmly entrenched as "the guy" at tight end for the Dolphins, the only question in training camp will be to see if anybody can supplant Smythe as the No. 2. Chris Myarick is back after spending last season on the practice squad and the Dolphins recently added Shaheen via trade and Wieting via waivers. Nobody outside of Gesicki should be considered a sure thing here.
PROJECTED OPENING-DAY STARTER: We've got to be careful about labels here, but Smythe technically was the starter in 2019, even though Gesicki got a lot more playing time. There's no question that Gesicki again will be the main guy at tight end, even if it ends up that Smythe is in the starting lineup Sept. 13 at Gillette Stadium.
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Alain Poupart has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989. You can follow him on Twitter at @apoupartFins.
