2026 Stat Projection: Lining up expectations for Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich

How high are too high for the expectations for Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich?

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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Nov 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (85) runs after the catch as New Orleans Saints cornerback Quincy Riley (29) defends during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Rich Storry-Imagn Images

It sure feels like things have finally turned the corner for Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich.

A former top-100 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dulcich’s early years as an NFL player were marred by frustrating injuries. After a stint with the Denver Broncos, Dulcich landed with the New York Giants but failed to make the 53-man roster in a crowded tight end room. That brought him to Miami, where he was one of the more productive tight ends in football over the second half of the season after making his debut with the Dolphins in Week 8. With Dulcich back in the fray this season, how high is ‘too high’ for the expectations?

2026 Stat Projection: Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich

Nov 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (85). Rich Storry-Imagn Images

Dulcich caught his first pass as a Miami Dolphin in Week 9 of last season. From that day to the end of the season, Dulcich ranked 13th in receiving yards by a tight end, 8th in yard after catch, and second in yards after catch per target. To call him a pleasant surprise would be an understatement.

But what would things look like for a full season and how will he be able to carry things over into a new year with a new quarterback in Malik Willis? It’s a legitimate question, but a fascinating exercise amid the questions lingering at wide receiver for Miami this summer.

His numbers from Week 9 to the end of the year last year project to 49 receptions, 633 yards and two touchdowns across a 17 game sample size. That’s an inexact science, but it gives you roughly an idea of what kind of production Dulcich was putting on display. That yardage total would have ranked 12th among NFL tight ends last season. But alas, Dulcich didn’t get a full year to showcase his skills. He will this year, though.

Greg Dulcich’s run after catch advantage

The best inspiration we can find for a tight end in a Bobby Slowik offense comes from the 2023 and 2024 Houston Texans. Those seasons, with Slowik as the offensive coordinator, both featured a persistent receiving presence at tight end via Dalton Schultz. Schultz posted 88 and 85 targets across those two seasons, ranking second on the team both years in opportunities as a pass catcher.

Consider Miami’s wide receivers. Why would a healthy Greg Dulcich not command at least a similar kind of opportunity, given what he showed in the back half of 2026?

Targets only tell part of the story. In Shultz’ two seasons under Slowik, Schultz managed less than 4.5 yards after catch per reception. Dulcich became one of just eight NFL tight ends since 2023 to have a season averaging more than 7.0 yards after catch per reception (minimum 25 catches). The group?

  • Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft (2023, 2024, 2025)
  • San Francisco’s George Kittle (2023)
  • Cleveland’s David Njoku (2023)
  • Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely (2023)
  • Pittsburgh’s Darnell Washington (2025)
  • Atlanta’s Jonnu Smith (2023)
  • Arizona’s Elijah Higgins (2025)
  • Dulcich (2025)

Final numbers projection for Miami Dolphins TE Greg Dulcich in 2026

It’s notable that only one of the five tight ends from 2023 to post 7.0+ yards after catch per reception has been able to replicate the number. So expecting the same level of juice from Dulcich this season is probably too ambitious. But let’s not put the cart before the horse. Starting with opportunity, we could conservatively ballpark as the target expectation for Dulcich to match Schultz across two seasons with Slowik — let’s say he gets 86 targets in 2026.

Schultz caught approximately 59% of his 173 targets across two seasons with Slowik. Dulcich’s career catch rate is 64.4% — so let’s split the difference there and call it 62% (rounding down). If Dulcich catches 62% of 86 targets, he’d catch 53 passes this season. And through four NFL seasons, Dulcich is averaging nearly 12 yards per reception. Schultz averaged 10.4 in two seasons with Slowik. With the baseline expectations set, just know one thing. I’m aiming high.

GREG DULCICH’S 2026 SEASON PROJECTION: 95 targets, 62 receptions, 694 yards, 11.2 yards per reception, 5 touchdowns

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