The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its eight-part collection previewing high gamers within the 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29) with tight ends. The Dolphins’ first choose within the draft is No. 51, a second-round choice.
The Dolphins’ main choices at tight finish are Durham Smythe, Tanner Conner and newly-signed Eric Saubert. Miami watched Mike Gesicki depart to New England by way of free company and traded Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams within the deal for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Tight finish is taken into account among the many high priorities for the Dolphins within the draft.
Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Kincaid (6 foot 4, 246 kilos) is extra of a slot receiver than an old-school in-line tight finish. He was a matchup nightmare in faculty as a result of he’s a elegant route-runner and top-notch receiver (70 receptions, 890 yards, eight touchdowns). His expertise ought to switch effectively to the NFL.
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Mayer (6-4, 249), a bodily type, has a balanced recreation, that means you’ll be able to put him in-line or within the slot. He’s a gifted receiver as his 67 receptions for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns will attest. But he’s additionally obtained the talent and want to be a superb blocker.
Sam LaPorta, Iowa
LaPorta (6-3, 245) is balanced, athletic and versatile, that means he’s a superb receiver in any formation in addition to an achieved blocker. LaPorta (58 receptions, 657 yards, one landing) isn’t greatest at school in any class however he does the whole lot effectively and might be probably the most well-rounded tight finish within the draft.
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Musgrave (6-6, 253) solely performed two video games final season as a consequence of a knee damage, totaling 11 receptions for 169 yards and one landing. But he’s the kind of tight finish groups want due to his receiving expertise and big-play potential. He excels on the seam route however he would possibly want preliminary persistence after mainly lacking the 2022 season.
Darnell Washington, Georgia
Washington (6-7, 264) is an enormous man who suits the position of old-school in-line tight finish, which you possibly can guess by his dimension and statistical line of 28 receptions, 454 yards and two touchdowns. He doesn’t have the fluid actions of immediately’s slot tight ends, however he can transfer males. And his fingers are respectable.
Best of the remainder
South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft, Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle, Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, Clemson’s Davis Allen and Will Mallory of the University of Miami compose the remainder of the highest gamers on this loaded class.
Class grade: A-
It’s a superb yr to wish a good finish with receiving expertise. This class is expert on the high, stocked with ready-to-play guys, and it’s deep, that means you could find good expertise by means of three rounds.
Teams in want
Aside from the Dolphins there’s Dallas, the Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Washington, Detroit, and the Los Angeles Rams.
Dolphins’ focus
Ideally, the Dolphins desire a tight finish who combines in-line blocking expertise with good receiving expertise, particularly a capability to run the seam route. With defenses targeted on extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle within the passing recreation, the hope is the tight finish can exploit his matchup. Blocking expertise aren’t a No. 1 requirement as Smythe will do a lot of blocking, however the brand new tight finish should be capable of block.
<u>Previously addressed</u>
Dolphins NFL draft choices: Offensive line
Dolphins NFL draft choices: Running backs
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Source: www.bostonherald.com