Battle to Watch: Tight Ends | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Battle to Watch: Tight Ends

SF Dolphin Fan

SF Dolphin Fan

Seasoned Veteran
Club Member
Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
27,374
Reaction score
40,147
How big of a season did Jonnu Smith have for Miami in 2024? Well, after a slow start, he ended up with 884 receiving yards. That was the most ever for a Miami Dolphins tight end. Here's the top 5 in Miami's history in terms of receiving yards:

1. Jonnu Smith 884 yards (2024))
2. Randy McMichael 791 (2004)
3. Mike Gesicki 789 (2021)
4. Charles Clay 759 (2013)
5. Gesicki 703 (2020)

Behind Smith, the Dolphins signed Pharaoh Brown, who likely takes the role of Durham Smythe as more of a blocking tight end and is an upgrade in that regard as well. Smith and Brown, 6-5 246, would seemingly be the two locks. Typically, teams keep 3 or 4 tight ends on the 53 man roster. Meaning one or two of the following could make it.

Tanner Conner 6-3, 232
Jalin Conyers 6-4, 265
Julian Hill 6-4, 251
Hayden Rucci 6-5, 247

Conner has always had the measurables with 4.37 speed and a verticle of 39.5, but the transition from receiver to tight end has been slow. He has stuck around every season that McDaniel has been here, and may have special team's value. But, I feel about him the same way I feel about Erik Ezukanma in that it's time to deliver, or be replaced by another player.

Conyers is the one undrafted free agent who I think has the best shot at cracking the 53. He offers a wildcat option, and the ability to block and some nice receiving highlights. That he went undrafted is still surprising to me.

Hill was promising as a rookie, but had a terrible season in 2024 including 14 penalties called against him. He does offer a great work ethic and could still have some upside as a receiver.

Rucci is a guy I liked coming out of Wisconsin. More of a blocker, I think he could be a practice squad option.
 
Yes, Smith and Brown are locks. Conyers will be interesting to see if he shows enough to make the squad. I don't care about Tanner Conner and Rucci as they are jags. One or both go on the PS. Julian Hill is the big disappointment and question mark as he showed such promise. I know the team invested a lot of time in him, so I have a feeling he may stick around if he has a decent camp.
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
1. Jonnu Smith 884 yards (2024))
2. Randy McMichael 791 (2004)
3. Mike Gesicki 789 (2021)
4. Charles Clay 759 (2013)
5. Gesicki 703 (2020)
Click to expand...
This is just another reason for me to hate McDaniel. We all know that Gesicki was a terrible blocker and rarely got YAC, but he was a tall guy who caught a lot of balls during the Flores era. Grier tagged him for 11 million for 2022, but McDaniel wanted to use him as a blocker and rarely threw the ball to him which made no sense. The idea is to gameplan around the strength of a player, not his weakness! McDaniel is an idiot.
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
How big of a season did Jonnu Smith have for Miami in 2024? Well, after a slow start, he ended up with 884 receiving yards. That was the most ever for a Miami Dolphins tight end. Here's the top 5 in Miami's history in terms of receiving yards:

1. Jonnu Smith 884 yards (2024))
2. Randy McMichael 791 (2004)
3. Mike Gesicki 789 (2021)
4. Charles Clay 759 (2013)
5. Gesicki 703 (2020)

Behind Smith, the Dolphins signed Pharaoh Brown, who likely takes the role of Durham Smythe as more of a blocking tight end and is an upgrade in that regard as well. Smith and Brown, 6-5 246, would seemingly be the two locks. Typically, teams keep 3 or 4 tight ends on the 53 man roster. Meaning one or two of the following could make it.

Tanner Conner 6-3, 232
Jalin Conyers 6-4, 265
Julian Hill 6-4, 251
Hayden Rucci 6-5, 247

Conner has always had the measurables with 4.37 speed and a verticle of 39.5, but the transition from receiver to tight end has been slow. He has stuck around every season that McDaniel has been here, and may have special team's value. But, I feel about him the same way I feel about Erik Ezukanma in that it's time to deliver, or be replaced by another player.

Conyers is the one undrafted free agent who I think has the best shot at cracking the 53. He offers a wildcat option, and the ability to block and some nice receiving highlights. That he went undrafted is still surprising to me.

Hill was promising as a rookie, but had a terrible season in 2024 including 14 penalties called against him. He does offer a great work ethic and could still have some upside as a receiver.

Rucci is a guy I liked coming out of Wisconsin. More of a blocker, I think he could be a practice squad option.
Click to expand...
Tanner Conner ran 4.37?
 
I think Jalin Conyers makes the team. I believe Tanner Conner's time has run out. Julian Hill most likely also doesn't make the cut this year. I guess they will probably also keep Brown. Rucci & Hill might end up on the practice squad.
 
Put 5 tight ends on the field at a time plus our new 220 pound back. You could simply play jump ball and run it down their throats. I’d trade Tyreek and waddle and pick dbs and more big tough o lineman…that’s why I’m not coach but hey we’d be on all the networks!
 
raving said:
Put 5 tight ends on the field at a time plus our new 220 pound back. You could simply play jump ball and run it down their throats. I’d trade Tyreek and waddle and pick dbs and more big tough o lineman…that’s why I’m not coach but hey we’d be on all the networks!
Click to expand...

The Dolphins offense needs all the gimmicks it can get. Four tight ends: some combination of in-line, H-back, blocking back and wide out, plus a power back, might get us a yard or two.
 
gofins60 said:
This is just another reason for me to hate McDaniel. We all know that Gesicki was a terrible blocker and rarely got YAC, but he was a tall guy who caught a lot of balls during the Flores era. Grier tagged him for 11 million for 2022, but McDaniel wanted to use him as a blocker and rarely threw the ball to him which made no sense. The idea is to gameplan around the strength of a player, not his weakness! McDaniel is an idiot.
Click to expand...
So you want to hate McDaniel for having the best year out of a TE (Jonnu) and WR (hill) in dolphins history? Umm ok. I know it’s in vogue right now to hate McDaniel for Capri pants and being less masculine but little dude has put up some insane numbers when he doesn’t have half the offense on the sidelines. 70 point game?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom