Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins rookie outlook for the 2021 season

By Nick Belotto

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs for a touchdown during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs for a touchdown during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 05: Hunter Long #80 of the Boston College Eagles scores a touchdown in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 05: Hunter Long #80 of the Boston College Eagles scores a touchdown in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

While I have slowly started to change my mind about this picks in the months following the selection, the gut reaction to this selection was: “Why? Don’t we already have 6 tight ends on the roster?” That was a bit of an overreaction to be sure, but it was hard to see why this was a necessary pick given Miami’s other needs and given the availability of players at other areas of need.

That being said, and given a personal re-evaluation of the current tight end group, this could end up being a solid pick if we don’t see any growth from Mike Gesicki this season. Each year begins with the hope that Gesicki will finally realize his potential and develop into an athletic weapon in this offense. So far, that has been more miss than hit and Long immediately steps in as a solid insurance plan if Gesicki leaves in free agency at the end of the season.

Long is an athletic player who could help stretch the field and provide some help in the middle of the field for Tagovailoa, working in a complimentary role to Jaylen Waddle. Still, his immediate impact is cloudy given the depth at the position.

Miami already has a ton of tight ends on the roster who play at various points throughout the game-plan based on their individual skill set. Long will have to prove that he is better at something to be able to see the field over Gesicki, Durham Smythe or Adam Shaheen.

Because of the log jam at the position, Long is one of the harder rookies to predict. That won’t deter me, however, from making a prediction on his upcoming stat line.

2021 season predictions: 4 Starts, 30 catches, 450 yards, 3 touchdowns

Home/Dolphins News