Miami Dolphins Mike Gesicki reigns over the TE unit
By Brian Miller
![Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen (80) gets loose for a big gain late in the second quarter as New York Jets cornerback Brian Poole (34) attempts to make a tackle at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, October 18, 2020. [ALLEN EYESTONE/The Palm Beach Post]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fphinphanatic-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F15086272-850x560-d9f65b38a5975255efd5da8833d8f506a57e24f76c11c9c183c0fe895fd1f256.jpg "Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen (80) gets loose for a big gain late in the second quarter as New York Jets cornerback Brian Poole (34) attempts to make a tackle at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, October 18, 2020. [ALLEN EYESTONE/The Palm Beach Post]")
The Miami Dolphins have seven TEs on their roster as training camp closes in. In just over a month, the off-season will come to a close.
Training camp is going to be interesting for the Dolphins tight end group. Seven players are on a roster that will keep four at the most. Two players are heading towards a 2022 free agency period, two are rookies, and two are promising young players who could still become very good while the last one is a seasoned veteran.
Ranking the tight ends on the current roster has to begin with Mike Gesicki so, in reality, we need to know who is the best of the remaining six are? Gesicki is heading towards a 2022 free agency shot if the Dolphins do not retain him. Working in his favor is that he is gotten better in each season since being drafted but the downside is that he was not drafted by Brian Flores and Chris Grier but instead, part of the Adam Gase, Mike Tannenbaum, Chris Grier draft class.
Gesicki remains the best pass-catching tight end on the Dolphins roster and overall he is still the best on the unit. Here are the others.
Jibri Blount: Blount has no experience playing football but he knows the game. His father is HOF’er Mel Blount. Jibri is a prime candidate for the practice squad as he has almost no chance of making the roster. The former basketball player is going to learn a lot about the NFL in the coming weeks but he needs to show he can compete at this level and has an aptitude to learn the game.
Chris Myarick: There have been some flashes but Myarick simply lacks experience. He didn’t get much last year and the lack of pre-season games didn’t help. He will get to show this camp he belongs but for now, his lack of experience is going to be an uphill climb.
Cethan Carter: Three years with the Bengals has taught Carter that the NFL is a tough place to play. He has only five starts, all coming last season, but has appeared in all but two games during his three years. He has 7 catches for 66 yards and one touchdown.
Hunter Long: It could be argued that an unproven rookie should be at the bottom. Long hasn’t even signed his rookie contract yet. That being said, he statistically put up numbers similar and in some categories, better, than Kyle Pitts last season. That is not to say that Long is a better prospect but his physicality and athleticism make him a better prospect than those below this spot.
Durham Smythe: Smythe was drafted in the mid-rounds of the same draft that brought Mike Gesicki to Miami. More a blocker than a pass-catcher, Smythe has been consistent when given the chance. He has 39 receptions for 323 yards and two scores.
Adam Shaheen: After spending his first three seasons with the Bears, he joined Miami in 2020 and made an impression. The Dolphins gave him a contract extension, albeit a small one, and he should factor into the Dolphins’ plans this year. He has started 18 games and has 38 receptions for 399 yards and seven touchdowns. Three of those coming last year.