Three places the Dolphins could turn during roster cut season amid a growing concern at a position of need
The Dolphins (still) appear to need tight end help. Where can they realistically find it?
The Miami Dolphins‘ offseason plan appeared to focus on revitalizing several position rooms across the roster. One such position was the tight end room, where veteran Jonnu Smith was jettisoned to Pittsburgh amid a contract dispute and long-time Dolphin Durham Smythe was released to make way for some new additions. The Dolphins would go on to sign big blocker Pharaoh Brown in free agency, trade for veteran pass catcher Darren Waller, and hosted Noah Fant on a free agent visit before the former first-round pick chose the Bengals over the Dolphins.
The early returns don’t look great. Darren Waller has yet to take a competitive snap in a team setting after spending much of training camp on the PUP list, whereas Miami has reportedly informed Brown that he’s been cut ahead of the start of the season. That leaves Miami with three experienced tight ends on the roster — Julian Hill, former UDFA project Tanner Conner, and Waller. Miami also does have fullback Alec Ingold who can perform some of the duties of a tight end and boasts a blocking specialist in Hayden Rucci, who spent time on the team’s practice squad as a rookie in 2024 but is no sure thing to make the team.
If the Dolphins are looking for some tight end help, where can they turn? Here are a few possible opportunities to watch.
Three places Miami could find a worthwhile investment at tight end amid NFL roster cuts
The New York Giants
Back to the New York Giants? Again? Surely. New York had moved on from Darren Waller in totality, only to find out this summer that Waller was interested in a return to football but only with a reunion with his former position coach, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. The rest of New York’s tight end room was stocked full of options, ranging from presumed breakout candidate Theo Johnson to a fading former draft hit in Daniel Bellinger. There’s a rookie in Thomas Fidone II and a former prized prospect who has struggled to realize his potential in Greg Dulcich.
The Giants won’t keep five — or it would at least be a stunner if they did. Between the names above and veteran Chris Manhertz, there should be someone positioned to shake loose that Miami could use if they wanted to add from the tight end room with the most surplus.
The Los Angeles Rams
Perhaps Miami would like to go shopping in a tight end room with a little more of a direct lineage to what the Dolphins’ offense does. Sean McVay, another Kyle Shanahan disciple, may have a tight end surplus of his own. Does Davis Allen, a fifth-round pick in 2023, make this team amid the presence of Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee plus the arrival of top rookie draft choice Terrance Ferguson? If not, he may be a swing of the bat worth exploring for Miami.
The Unemployment Line
The free agent pool has a potential reunion opportunity awaiting Mike McDaniel. McDaniel was in San Francisco from 2017 through 2021 before being hired in Miami. He overlapped with tight end Ross Dwelley from 2018 through 2021, including Dwelley’s 502 snap season in 2020. The 49ers saw Dwelley leave for Atlanta in 2024 before returning this offseason — only to cut him recently. Could McDaniel turn to a familiar face on the free agent market who knows the terminology of his offensive system and bypass any need to negotiate a trade or sweat out waiver claims?
Miami Dolphins News
Dolphins Final Roster Cuts Tracker: Keeping up with every move as Miami slims down to 53 players ahead of the 2025 season
Keep up with all the Dolphins’ roster cuts right here.
