We’re only one game into Week 8, and it’s already adding insult to injury for Dolphins fans amid a brutal season
The week has barely started yet, and still…
The Miami Dolphins do not play this week until Sunday afternoon, where they will serve as the visitors against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a tough matchup of personnel for Miami, but there’s extra motivation for the Falcons coming into this game after they were stymied last weekend by the San Francisco 49ers. A potent Falcons attack was held to just 10 points, which the Falcons should be ready to rectify.
But despite the wait for Miami’s next game, Week 8 of this season is already a rough one for Dolphins fans — thanks to one of the starring members of last night’s Thursday Night Football contest between the Chargers and the Vikings.
Dolphins’ decision to pass on tight end class hurts in more ways than one after latest TNF contest
In case you missed it, the Chargers thumped the Vikings at home last night. But it was the opening touchdown of the game that put some extra salt in the wound of 2025 for Miami fans. Oronde Gadsden II, son of former Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden, found the end zone and became the third rookie tight end since the merger to surpass 300+ receiving yards in a three game stretch.
The Dolphins bypassed the chance to draft Gadsden II five times in total in April’s 2025 NFL Draft, three times in the fifth round alone. The rookie from Syracuse was eventually made the 165th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and has quickly found his footing throughout the course of the early portion of this season.
Miami, of course, could defend the decision at the time by pointing to the presence of Jonnu Smith. Smith failed to make it to training camp, however — he was traded with CB Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh in early July. Miami’s pivot was to turn to previously retired Darren Waller at the position in a move that was questionable, appeared more questionable after Waller missed the first three games of the season, became a rousing success story amid four touchdowns in three games, and now looks worse than ever after being placed on injured reserve this week with a pec strain.
He’ll miss at least the next four games.
Miami Dolphins’ fifth-round draft selections in the 2025 NFL Draft
- 143rd overall – Defensive Tackle Jordan Phillips
- 150th overall – Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.
- 155th overall – Safety Dante Trader Jr.
So, in summary, Miami bypassed a local product and second-generation Dolphin for a tight end that would get traded in July, and the pivot was a formerly retired veteran who will have played four games out of the first eleven this season (at best) while playing on a one-year deal?
Ouch. Seeing Gadsden II produce for the Chargers adds insult to injury for a position in Miami that has frequently been under ire due to its importance to the offense and the overall underwhelming resources it has been provided.
There is, however, a potential saving grace. It comes in the form of new 53-man roster addition Greg Dulcich, who the Dolphins should work to get as many reps as possible provided he’s ready for the mental load of the offense. Getting a win there would take some of the extra sting out of watching the son of a fan-favorite Dolphin making such an impactful early mark in the pros.
Miami Dolphins News
A trio of Dolphins players are currently threatening to derail one of Miami’s 2026 assets with their play this season
Boy, there sure are a lot of conflicting interests ’round these parts!
