New Dolphins TE Darren Waller hinted at an NFL return this spring — and now we know who to thank for getting him to Miami
It turns out we may not be so surprised to find out that the Miami Dolphins are bringing on tight end Darren Waller in 2025. Miami's creative roster shuffling has been busy this week, with the Dolphins first shipping out cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith on Monday for a trade package that returned […]
It turns out we may not be so surprised to find out that the Miami Dolphins are bringing on tight end Darren Waller in 2025.
Miami's creative roster shuffling has been busy this week, with the Dolphins first shipping out cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith on Monday for a trade package that returned safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to help realign Miami's talent in the secondary. Today? The Dolphins sent a late-round conditional draft choice to the New York Giants to acquire the rights to tight end Darren Waller. He is expected to be a part of the solution to replace targets left behind by Smith.
Waller didn't play in 2024 — he was retired. But perhaps, if we were listening carefully this spring, we would have found a key clue that signified Waller's willingness to come back and play for the Dolphins.
Darren Waller teased his willingness to play in Miami this March
"The only two people I will listen to, I will say, is (Jon Gruden) and (Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator) Frank Smith. The only two people I will hear out and give them my ear (about a return)…they got sports cars down there man. Everybody down there run a 4.3."
– Newly acquired Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller to Jon Gruden this March
As it turns out, Miami's connection to Waller via Frank Smith may have been a key part of the decision for Waller to un-retire and play football again in 2025. Smith was a key figure in Waller's best years with the Raiders. Serving as Waller's tight end coach in Oakland/Las Vegas between 2018-2020, Waller posted two 1,110+ yard receiving seasons.
If he collects that many footballs in 2025 for the Dolphins, something will have gone horribly wrong for Miami's offensive aspirations this season. Miami is trying to recapture their ability to run the football this season, so much so that they were resistant to paying Smith a $12 million salary that he eventually got from the Steelers. Instead, Miami is getting creative to identify a big-bodied pass catcher to serve as an ancillary piece.
For Waller, knowing that he's going to a coach that has seen the best version of him and understands how he can be best served on the field appears to be a key motivator in getting him back on the gridiron. It's a low risk, high reward opportunity for Miami and a great chance for Waller to re-write the ending to his NFL career after a disappointing stint in New York with the Giants. Waller, it appears, knows what he's signing himself up for. And thanks to Frank Smith, so do the Dolphins.
The Dolphins just traded for their Jonnu Smith replacement — and it’s a wilder solution than anyone could have predicted
The Miami Dolphins are getting creative to help fill the void left behind by tight end Jonnu Smith's departure yesterday. Miami included Smith, who had a career year in 2024, in their blockbuster trade yesterday, which finally brought an end to their Jalen Ramsey saga. Smith was hopeful for a new deal to stay in […]
