Miami Dolphins at 50: Top 10 TEs
By Dan Heaning
Mandatory credit: MiamiDolphins.com
No. 10 – Troy Drayton
The 1996 Miami Dolphins desperately needed a tight end. Eric Green didn’t provide the type of pass catching the new Jimmie Johnson regime wanted.
Their solution? An early season trade with St. Louis for Troy Drayton. The fourth year TE worked out nicely for Miami initially. He started 10 games and compiled 320 yards on 26 receptions.
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The next season, Drayton put out the 12th best single season performance by a tight end. He put hauled down 39 receptions for 558 receiving yards.
However, Drayton never did become a red zone threat for the Dolphins offense only managing eight touchdowns during his four seasons in Miami. He was practically invisible in the playoffs as well as he caught 5 passes for 30 yards in three post season outings.
Drayton’s production fell off in the next two seasons before ending his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mandatory credit: MiamiDolphins.com
No. 9 – Joe Rose
Joe Rose has two claims to fame. He caught Dan Marino’s first ever touchdown pass on Sept. 19, 1983 against the Los Angeles Raiders.
He also served as the analyst for the Miami Dolphins radio broadcasts, but that doesn’t really help him on a list such as this.
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Nothing about Rose’s individual season stats are eye-popping. He never had more than 30 receptions in one season, but he did post three 300 plus yard seasons.
Rose served as a backup to Ronnie Lee, Bruce Hardy and Dan Johnson throughout his six year stay in Miami. However, he is seventh all-time amongst tight ends in receiving yards (1,493), eighth in touchdowns (13), and ninth in receptions (112). Those numbers put him higher on the Dolphins all-time receiving list over both Lee and Johnson.