2018 NFL Draft – Tight End

The 2018 NFL Draft is just 2 days away!  What better time to take a look at a position the Miami Dolphins have largely ignored or failed to adequately fill in over a decade!  Nope, not QB, although I’m sure some of you feel that way, no it’s TE!  If you just look at the names we’ve had in at TE it doesn’t seem nearly as bad, but trust me, we didn’t have that player when they were producing or healthy.  Julius Thomas, Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims, Charles Clay,  Anthony Fasano, David Martin and finally Randy McMichael.  McMichael was our best TE out of this group, and David Martin was a nice #2 TE, but the rest, fughettaboutit!  It’s time to change that, and this particular draft has pretty decent depth, and I’d feel pretty comfortable with at least 3 prospects, so we do have a chance of finally drafting a TE early that will help this offense and make a major impact as a receiver.

 

Mike Gesicki  6’5 247 Penn State

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Mike Gesicki would be my first choice at TE.  He’s not the best blocker at this point, in fact, he may be the player least likely to block, but I do think he may be the most dangerous receiver at TE.  You can teach a player to block, but you can’t teach speed and athleticism, and Mike Gesicki has that in spades.  At 6’5 247, with long 34″ arms, Gesicki ran the 40 in 4.54 seconds, put up 22 reps of 225, had an amazing 41.5″ vertical, a very fast 4.1 20 YD shuttle, and a 129″ broad jump.  This kid screams explosiveness. Gesicki made his presence felt as a Junior at Penn State, and had his breakout season.  He finished with 48 receptions for 679 yards and 5 TD’s, a very nice 14.5YPR.  In his Senior season, Gesicki caught 57 passes for 563 yards and 9 TD’s.   Mike Gesicki is the highest rated TE at NFL.com by a slight margin at 5.92.  Besides the long arms, at the end of those long arms are some big mitts, 10 1/8″ mitts.  I think Gesicki could be the missing piece that gets our offense going.  Having that fast TE threatening the seam will open things for our running backs, and also our other receivers.  We haven’t had a TE commanding any attention in far too long.

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Hayden Hurst 6’4 250  South Carolina

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Hurst is also a very athletic TE prospect,  He was actually in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a pitcher, but left baseball and walked on at S. Carolina as a TE.  Hurst finally got his big chance his Sophomore year, and he took advantage of that chance and finished the season with 48 catches for 616 yards and a TD.  His Junior year was pretty consistent with his last season, 44 catches for 559 yards and 2 TD’s.  The one negative about Hurst is he will be a relatively old rookie at 25 years old.  Hurst did well at the combine as well, though not as good as Gesicki, running a 4.67 40, and a 31.5″ vertical.  Hurst is a better blocker than Gesicki, and at least has blocked, unlike Gesicki who is mainly used as a receiver.  Hurst has very good hands, registering only 1 drop against 100 receptions.  Hurst is rated at 5.90, 2nd highest rated TE.

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Dallas Goedert 6’5 255  South Dakota State

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Dallas Goedert has a lot of receptions on his resume, and many of them one handed acrobatic grabs as he is pictured making above.  He’s got talent, and although he’s Rock’s favorite, he worries me a bit.  First off, he played at South Dakota St. where he was a man among boys.  The guy covering him in that pic above looks smaller than me!  This is what worries me, he hasn’t played against tough coverage, and bigger defenders, and he surely will in the NFL.  An average LB in the NFL will likely be heads and shoulders better than anything he’s faced in college, so I think he has some challenges ahead of him. Goedert didn’t run the 40 at the combine or his pro day due to a hamstring injury, but he did some drills at his pro day.  Dallas had a nice 35″ vertical and a 10.1′ broad jump.  He also ran a nice 4.06 in the 20 YD shuttle, as well as a quick 6.87 in the 3 cone drill.  Goedert’s best season was his Junior year where he caught 92 passes for 1293 yards and 11 TD’s.   He’s rated as the 3rd best TE by NFL.com at 5.87

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Ian Thomas  6’4 259  Indiana

Ian-Thomas

Thomas is one of the more well rounded TE’s in the draft.  He’s a good receiver as well as a good blocker as an in line TE.  He doesn’t have great speed, but he’s fast enough.  He actually has a remarkable story as far his upbringing, after losing both his parents at 9 years, and being raised by siblings.  He’s known as “Humble and focused” at Indiana,  and scouts say he loves football.  Thomas had his best season as a Senior after he transferred from community college a year earlier.  He caught 25 passes for 376 yards and 5 TD’s.  Although he didn’t perform the bench press at the combine or his pro day, Thomas is considered a powerful athlete. He has good run after the catch ability and is very physical separating from would  be tacklers.  Thomas does need coaching on route running and may have some more upside in that regard.  Thomas is somewhat of an unfinished product having played only 2 seasons, really 1 full season of college ball.  Thomas is rated at 5.82 at NFL.com

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Dalton Schultz  6’6 242  Stanford

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Schultz is actually at the other end of the spectrum from what I want for the Dolphins, because his actually a better blocking TE than receiver.  He may be one of the best blockers at TE in this draft.  His receiving stats are relatively dismal, his Senior year totals were 22 catches for 212 yards and 3 TD’s.  He wouldn’t be the guy I’d want as our 1st TE, but I wouldn’t mind him as our 2nd TE, with Gesicki spread out or in the slot.  He was a big part of the run game at Stanford and relied heavily as a run blocker.  He has the size, and I’m sure he’ll add even more weight once he hits a regular NFL lifting routine.  He’s expected to go around the 3rd or 4th RD, and honestly I wouldn’t mind doubling up on TE’s, although MarQueis Gray isn’t bad as a 2nd TE as a blocker either.  Schultz is rated at 5.70 at NFL.com

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I know some of you have your favorites later in the draft, but I think it’s crucial to our team’s success that we get one of the top TE prospects in this draft, meaning IMO either Gesicki, Hurst or Goedert.  I feel if they pass on these guys, we’ll end with yet another JAG at the TE position, continuing the tradition here in MIA of ignoring the TE position.

PS – If you intend on attending this year’s Fest game, please vote on the poll on the right side underneath the 2018 schedule.  This way we can choose a date early and get those reservations taken care of!  Thanks, and happy voting!

 

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2,048 Responses to 2018 NFL Draft – Tight End

  1. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    ON THE CLOCK!!!

    DON’T FUCK THIS UP!

  2. olddolphan's avatar olddolphan says:

    WELL NELSON & McGLINCHY are gone. Guess THOSE organizations believe the O-Line is important. Something tells me a huge groan will follow T-Bomb’s selection. WHAT A SURPRISE!!

  3. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    It makes sense for us to get Edmunds, we won’t take him

  4. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    There’s a LOT of talent left on D for us.

  5. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    HERE WE GO!!!

  6. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    We got some SERIOUS defensive talent to choose from. Edmunds… come on home to S. Fla.

  7. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    SO happy we didn’t trade up!!!

  8. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    Boom …good for Arizona … now Tannenbaum run RUN up there with your Edmunds card.

  9. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Damn, not that I think we had to, but I really wanted to see what we’d do with Rosen sitting there when we picked. Lol

  10. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    James, Minka and Edmunds all sitting there

  11. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    $50 they go to commercial…….

  12. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    Here comes Vita Vea, get ready lol

  13. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Edmunds or Fitzpatrick. We can’t really fuck up this pick can we?

  14. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Minkah
    James
    Edmunds
    ????????????/
    Who woulda thunk it????????????

  15. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Funkin TB still get’s a great DB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    C’mon Edmunds!

  17. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Here it is!!!!!!!!

  18. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    here we go

  19. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    Who the fuck is Oren!

  20. D's avatar D says:

    If we draft Fitzpatrick we get a lb as well just move TJ up lol

  21. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Who called that?

  22. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    MINKAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

  23. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Okay it’s Minkah

    I can’t complain but I wanted Edmunds

  24. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Minkah!!!!!1

  25. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    Minka da merciless

  26. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    thud … at least he’s a great player … I never wanted that little 19 yr old anyway.

  27. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    YES!!!

  28. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    I am disappointed

  29. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    I didn’t think there was any way he would be there at 11

  30. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Saban connection

    huh ok, Nogtih all

    Tomorrow we take Goedert

  31. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

  32. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Hey wait hes from Bama ?? 😡

  33. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    Is Minkah a good pick regardless of passing on Edmunds?

  34. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    Wanted Edmunds (honor his daddy)… but as many of you have said, if TJ moves up then we solved two spots

  35. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    I guess we did go BPA!

  36. Phindog's avatar Phindog says:

    Fuck yes !!!!

  37. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    I get that Minka can drop down, but we still need another base LB. Nice player though…good pick. Couldn’t really go wrong either way.

  38. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Now I’m going to watch to see witch LBs, TEs, RB and DTs drop into the 2nd round

  39. D's avatar D says:

    If Evans makes it to the second we may go back to back bama

  40. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Hope we can wash the Saban stench off him

  41. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    LOVE that pick!!!!!

  42. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    With the acquisition of Minkah, let’s hope that either Reshad Jones, TJ McDonald, or one of our young CBs are CUT!!!

  43. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Go Minkah the Merciless
    Go Dolphins
    I’m Going to sleep

  44. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Of course we take one of the few players I didn’t scout

  45. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    Minkah is a NFL player day one. A can’t miss prospect. Like I said yesterday, draft Minkah and it’s like getting two players for one, because he can play FS and release TJ to go play nickel LB and let Reshad roam for the pick sixes that he’s so good at.
    Legion of Boom 2.0 baby

  46. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Minkah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  47. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Guys we like Anthony more than we were thinking

  48. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    TB Guice ? Or Edmunds ?

  49. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    He was the consensus BPA!

  50. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Love the pick, now go out and get a damn TE!!!!

  51. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Good call SON!!!!!!!!!!

  52. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Vita man

  53. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    VITA!!!

  54. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    That was interesting????????????

  55. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    Harris up front last year, Minkah for back end this year….. I think we do another LB in 2nd like last year and we finish this defense once and for all.

  56. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    next up for Miami? a stud TE

  57. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    How much will it cost to trade up and get Edmunds…lol

  58. olddolphan's avatar olddolphan says:

    SEEMS LIKE we drafted another player to join an area of strength (our secondary) instead of drafting into an area of need (OL, DL, TE, etc.). But, at least, we did get a very high quality player in my humble opinion. Maybe we can develop him into a star and them trade him for a 4th round pick in a few years???

  59. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Malik Jeferson come on down!

  60. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    a position of need for TB

  61. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    MF13, the “faller” looks to be Edmunds 😦

  62. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Ridley, Guice, James, Edmunds

    Good players in the board

  63. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Quite the DL they have

  64. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    naplesfan2010 says:
    April 26, 2018 at 9:25 pm
    nooooooooooooooooooooo why? that would ruin the whole strategy.
    ———–
    We took BPA! Thus, it’s time for either Reshad or TJ to go!

    • naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

      no man we need those guys. They play SS and nickel LB where we have been badly hurting. We did not have a real FS so now we do.

  65. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    I’m so happy we did not go for Derwin James as I think he is a classic tweener.

  66. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I think the Denzel Ward pick for us Minkah

    I’m excited about our safeties

  67. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I had Fitzpatrick as my #4 prospect, so I am thrilled he was still available. Now we need to do whatever we can to get one of those top TEs.

  68. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Is this a DT run?

  69. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Da’Ron!!!

  70. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Mayfield to Landry oh what could have been. Watch how bad Landry will suck there too sheesh

  71. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    NO taking Lamar?????????

  72. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    Good Lord, it didn’t take long for Minkahs wikiboage to be updated

  73. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Ward to NO ??

  74. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    “today’s NFL is a passing league” they say, so we need more DBs. So we get a 6′ 204 (muscular) 4.4 guy to play FS who hits and has ball skills. how is that not great?
    Minkah set the school record with 4 pick sixes and had 6 INTS in one yr.

  75. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    I get james and ward mixed up

  76. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    Edmunds falling could push vander esch to the 2nd round

  77. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    This is one I might hate if they take one of my TEs

  78. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    Saints taking Lamar Jackson !?

  79. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Thanks wyoming ..

  80. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

  81. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Wow the Saints gave up a fortune

  82. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Good, one less team to worry about drafting a TE in the 1st.

  83. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Saints take Davenport wow

    • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

      Two number ones for a small school pass Rusher who needs a lot of work

      That’s a horrible draft move

  84. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    MARCUS!!!!

  85. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    WTF a DE

  86. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    wtf, saints???
    lmfao

  87. D's avatar D says:

    They did need pass rush

  88. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    That was a lot to give up for Davenport

  89. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    We did the right thing

  90. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Edmunds here ??

  91. D's avatar D says:

    They gave up too much but that’s a need position pick so I’m not shocked they selected him

  92. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    y’all don’t know this…
    I left California to run track at UTSA…. NO football, no dorms… just a track in the middle of mesquite. I transferred after one year. Saints trade UP for a guy from UTSA. Surreal.

  93. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    it’s good for them and pushes Hayden Hurst down a handful more places closer to being there for us (cough Gesicki cough)

  94. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Beware of risers after the games end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  95. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I recall back in November, when I was scouting Marcus Davenport. At the time, he was a projected 4th rounder… and I RANG THE ALARM!!! I’m VERY happy for that cat!

  96. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    I don’t Davenport was a terrible selection but I think they gave up way too much

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