Since the NFL is an offensive league, offenses are dynamic systems. The Miami Dolphins offense has often been among the top in the league for the last few seasons. One of the most creative minds in the business, head coach Mike McDaniel is always adjusting his plans to get the best out of his offense.
He has enabled his two outstanding wide receivers to reach their full potential and has developed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into one of the best and most skilled passers in the league. After ranking sixth in 2022, the Dolphins offense improved to the top of the NFL in 2023 (first in passing, sixth in rushing). However, they would want to see a spike in output for one particular position.
Early Free Agent Signing May Be A Secret Weapon For The Dolphins’ Attack
For Years, Impact Production Has Been Lacking in the Tight End Position
To put it simply, excellent tight ends are difficult to find. Some of the league’s top targets at the position are Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews. They are essential components of their teams’ offensive game plans and, in Kelce’s case, the main point. For a variety of reasons, the Dolphins have avoided attention to this position. Although Miami has a strong passing game, wide receivers have been the ones doing the majority of the work. Although they had the best offense overall last year, they came in dead last in terms of total targets to tight ends.
Since McDaniel took over, Miami hasn’t had a tight end surpass 400 yards receiving. The greatest output they have witnessed at the position came from former tight end Mike Gesicki, who in 2021 played the role as the team’s de facto number-two receiving threat by catching 73 receptions for 780 yards. Although their recent performance at the position has been shocking, their offense’s effectiveness presents a significant chance for the league’s best attack to go even further.
Let’s introduce Jonnu Smith.
Before the free agent frenzy began, Miami signed tight end Jonnu Smith back in March. He played all of last year in Atlanta, when he recorded 50 receptions for a career-high 582 receiving yards. After what many had been waiting for—his breakout season—he is now leading a talented tight end room that also includes Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, and Jody Fortson Jr.
When it came to yards after the catch (YAC) per reception for tight ends during the previous season, Smith tied George Kittle of San Francisco and fell behind David Njoku of Cleveland. But because he plays all over the field, he is more than just your average tight end. He is a weapon. showcasing his adaptability, which Mike McDaniel, the head coach, adores. He played snaps in the backfield, out wide, and in the slot last season.
How will Mike McDaniel use Jonnu Smith in the @MiamiDolphins offense?
One way Smith impacted the game last season was on screen passes, finishing the season with the 3rd-most YAC over expected on screens (+71).#FinsUp https://t.co/n4Y6nDpI7j pic.twitter.com/CyOp2ovNgg
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 7, 2024
Dream Potential Sleeper Jonnu Smith
Jonnu Smith was recently listed by Pro Football Focus as a possible sleeper for the next campaign. He ranked 11th in yards run per route, 17th in receiving yards per game, and sixth at his position last year with an average of 1.77 yards per target.
He is currently collecting passes from Tagovailoa, who topped the league in passing only last year and averages 8.2 yards per attempt over the past two seasons. Smith may get lost by defenses while playing with two of the best wide receivers in the game, giving him plenty of opportunities to score points all over the field.
Miami may finally witness elite productivity from the tight end position with the signing of Smith. Now, it will be up to McDaniel and the offensive line of the Dolphins to make the most of his skill set. Should McDaniel’s past performance with Tagovailoa, Hill, and Waddle serve as any guide, Smith should be in for his greatest season to date.