The Miami Dolphins’ training camp opens on Tuesday as the rookies report to start the ramp-up for the 2024 NFL regular season. The team’s veterans follow on July 23, then the team begins public practices on July 28.
Before the team gets fully into the swing of training camp, it is time to take a closer look at the team’s 90-man preseason roster, position group by position group. The series began with the quarterbacks on Wednesday, then moved to the running backs on Thursday. Today, the series moves to the tight ends.
Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel has stated the next evolution of his offensive system is to get the tight ends more involved in the passing game. Will that happen in 2024? Does Miami have the right set of tight ends for that evolution?
Miami Dolphins 2024 training camp roster: Tight Ends
Tanner Conner (2nd year)Jody Fortson, Jr. (4th year)Julian Hill (2nd year)Hayden Rucci (Rookie – UDFA)Jonnu Smith (8th year)Durham Smythe (7th year)
The Dolphins only kept two tight ends – Smythe and Hill – on the opening roster in 2023, but the 2024 group should be larger. Smith, newly signed this year in free agency, should assume the top spot on the depth chart, while Smythe will see plenty of playing time. Hill seems like a coaching favorite and could find a spot on the roster as the depth option.
Fortson is likely the fourth tight end in what may be a three-player group. He was signed as a free agent, but he has only caught 14 passes in his career in 19 games played. The potential is there, but he will need a strong preseason to guarantee a roster position.
Conner and Rucci are practice squad options.
2023 Stats
Smith (with Atlanta Falcons) – 17 games (6 starts), 50 receptions, 582 yards, 11.6 yards per reception average, 3 touchdowns
Smythe – 16 games (14 starts), 35 receptions, 366 yards, 10.5 yards per reception average
Hill – 15 games (4 starts), 6 receptions, 48 yards, 8.0 yards per reception average
Fortson (with Kansas City Chiefs) – 13 games (1 start), 9 receptions, 108 yards, 12.0 yards per reception average, 2 touchdowns
Conner – 3 games
Rucci (at Wisconsin) – 13 games, 11 receptions, 125 yards, 11.4 yards per reception average
Bubble Watch
Fortson – Fans want Fortson to make the roster, but he just has not proven himself thus far. He was an undrafted free agent signing with the Chiefs in 2019 and spending two seasons on the practice squad before playing in six games in 2021 and in 13 games in 2022. He was on injured reserve for all of the 2023 season. He is going to have to flash early in training camp if he wants a chance to make the roster.
