NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Miami Dolphins traded their all-time leading receiving tight end in both catches and yards when they traded Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Today they added Darren Waller from the New York Giants but still might be playing catch-up with the rest of free agency. Will Waller be enough of a playmaker or will someone in-house need to step up before the season starts. If not, there are still trades out there to make to pair with Waller should he not excel in Miami.
1.) Kyle Pitts
Pitts hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft status. However, to be fair, Jonnu Smith wasn’t exactly lighting it up before the Dolphins gave him a shot either. Pitts could easily be the same type of TE that Jonnu was, but the downside of a Pitts acquisition is that the Dolphins need a blocking tight end who can help bring their run game back to life, something Pitts hasn’t really solidified himself as a threat at yet.
2. A Baltimore TE
Either Isaiah Likely or Mark Andrews should be a target for Miami. The chance of the Baltimore Ravens giving up either would take a lot of finesse by Chris Grier, but those same type of phone calls brought both Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb into the mix. Andrews is approaching 30 and would be more likely to be available, but never say never in the NFL.
3. Cole Kmet
Another tight end that isn’t likely to be traded but could be with the right price. Kmet could be massaged away from the Bears now that they drafted TE Colston Loveland in this year’s NFL Draft with the 10th pick overall. The likelihood of them paying top dollar for two tight ends isn’t unheard of, especially with a struggling quarterback, but if the Bears are thinking long-term, they might just be willing to strike a deal.
4.) Michael Mayers
There are rumors floating around that the Dolphins are interested in Mayer now that the Raiders have their guy at TE in Brock Bowers. There is also rumors that the Raiders wouldn’t mind having a one-two punch with Bowers and Mayer in the new Chip Kelly-led offense. Miami has plenty of opportunity and with enough creativity might be able to get something done.
No matter who they choose, the Miami Dolphins need to make a move. I don’t remember the last time a tight end, outside of Jonnu Smith, had a better than average season in Miami. Waller has had a couple in his career but has never been a big touchdown guy. Chris Grier needs to stop the bleeding and lack of direction at the position that has been plaguing the team for years.
