The Dolphins have high-end difference-makers at only a few positions, and count tight end among the many rooms that need one.<\/p>\n
But Miami might not find that player in this year\u2019s draft, which is filled with a dozen decent mid-round tight end options but perhaps only two players worthy of a high-round pick: Oregon\u2019s Kenyon Sadiq (widely projected to go in the top 25) and Vanderbilt\u2019s Eli Stowers, whom ESPN\u2019s Field Yates mocks 46th, three spots after Miami\u2019s second-round pick.<\/p>\n
Sadiq\u2019s skills in the passing game have pushed him to the top of the class at his position; he had 51 catches, 560 yards and eight TDs last season. NFL Network\u2019s Daniel Jeremiah rates him 16th among all draft prospects. Philadelphia, at 23, has been a popular destination in mocks. ESPN\u2019s Field Yates mocks him 19th to Carolina.<\/p>\n
Jeremiah said the 6-3, 245-pound Sadiq has \u201coutstanding speed and athleticism. At Oregon, he primarily aligned attached or in the slot, but he also saw some reps out wide and in the backfield. He is very explosive in his release and he\u2019s able to separate vertically on seam\/wheel routes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe excels on quick screens, where he can display his dynamic run-after-catch skills. He needs to improve his dependability as a pass catcher. There were too many easy would-be catches that were dropped during the 2025 season. I love his competitiveness and tenacity as a blocker. Overall, Sadiq lacks height and consistent hands, but he is a versatile, explosive weapon with toughness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stowers, at 43, could be a consideration to supplement a room featuring Greg Dulcich and skilled in-line blocker Ben Sims, who essentially is replacing Patriots-bound Julian Hill.<\/p>\n
Stowers, a former quarterback, who won the Academic Heisman this past season, caught 62 passes for 749 yards (most among FBS tight ends) and four TDs last season.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s Jordan Reid said \u201cStowers was one of the biggest stories at the Combine, leaping 45\u00bd inches in the vertical. Can play inline or flex out to create mismatches.\u201d<\/p>\n
He has just three years of tight end experience but \u201che\u2019s an excellent athlete.. a natural pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and massive run-after-catch talent,\u201d NFL.com\u2019s Lance Zierlein said.<\/p>\n
Feedback on the players who would be options with Miami\u2019s four third-round picks (75, 87, 90, 94) and with their fourth-round pick at 130 and fifth-round pick at 149:<\/p>\n
\u25aa North Carolina State\u2019s Justin Joly: I\u2019ve confirmed 20 of the Dolphins\u2019 maximum 30 predraft visits, and Joly is the only tight end among those 20.<\/p>\n
Joly, who is 6-3 \u00bd and 241 pounds, caught 49 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns for the Wolfpack last season. In his one previous season at NC State in 2024, Joly caught 43 passes for 661 yards and four TDs.<\/p>\n
He played his first two seasons at Connecticut, catching 74 passes for 828 yards and four TDs. NFL.com\u2019s Lance Zierlein sizes him up this way: \u201cUndersized pass-catcher with the ability to expand the route tree and challenge man coverage around the field. Joly still needs to polish his route-running, but he has the footwork and athletic traits to\u201d get open.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Cincinnati\u2019s Joe Royer (29 catches, 416 yards, four touchdowns):<\/p>\n
He started two years for the Bearcats after three nondescript years at Ohio State. Kiper calls him the second best tight end in the draft, but NFL.com\u2019s Lance Zierlein doesn\u2019t view him as a potential NFL starter:<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is better over the first two levels, with a more basic route tree allowing him to flow,\u201d Zierlein said. \u201cRoyer has TE2\/3 potential if he continues to polish his game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Utah\u2019s Dallen Bentley (48-620-6 TDs): Kiper\u2019s No. 3 tight end had just three catches (for 20 yards) in his first two seasons in Salt Lake City before making a big jump last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has the build of an in-line tight end but mostly uses his size to occupy defenders instead of digging into blocks,\u201d Zierlein said. \u201cBentley\u2019s NFL future could depend on his ability to play with more tenacity and technique as a run blocker since his catch production from 2025 might not translate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Stanford\u2019s Sam Roush (49-545-4 TDs): Projections are all over the map for a player who had 119 receptions (for 1,201 yards) in four years in Palo Alto, California.<\/p>\n
Zierlein said he \u201cstands out as one of the few plug-and-play \u201cY\u201d tight ends (in-line blocking TE) available. While his catch production might draw questions, his size, toughness and pro-ready blocking profile could push him into Day 2 consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Notre Dame\u2019s Eli Raridon (32-482, no TDs): Kiper\u2019s No. 4 tight end: He\u2019s poised to become the seventh Fighting Irish tight end drafted in nine years.<\/p>\n
Zierlein said he \u201cprojects as a \u201cY\u201d tight end with the ability to play and produce on all three downs… He has sneaky build-up speed and ball skills to make catches down the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Michigan\u2019s Marlin Klein (24-248-1 TD in his final of four seasons in Ann Arbor): Kiper\u2019s No. 5 tight end \u201chas a chance to become a Day 3 pick as a backup Y tight end,\u201d Zierlein said.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Ohio State\u2019s Max Klare (43-448-2 TDs): Kiper\u2019s No. 6 tight end caught 51 passes for 685 yards and 4 TDs at Purdue in 2024 (his third season there) but then transferred to the Buckeyes.<\/p>\n
Zierlein characterizes him as a \u201chighly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level. He\u2019s best from the slot. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Texas\u2019 Jack Endries (33-346, 3 TDs): He caught 91 passes for 1,030 yards in two years at Cal before transferring to the Longhorns last year.<\/p>\n
Zierlein calls him \u201ca quarterback-friendly \u201cF\u201d tight end who still needs time in the weight room…. Endries should develop into an NFL starter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Southern Cal\u2019s Lake McRee (30-450, 4 TDs before an ACL injury): He caught 97 passes for 1,154 yards in five years at USC, and Zierlein describes him as a \u201ccombination tight end who makes up for his lack of ideal size with his ability to get open… Provided his ACL repairs hold up, McRee has the tools and talent for consideration as a Day 3 pick with upside as a pass-catcher.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Texas A&M\u2019s Nate Boerkircher (19-198, 3 TD): He caught 19 passes for 219 in four years at Nebraska before transferring to College Station for his final season.<\/p>\n
Zierlein says he has \u201cflown under the radar but projects as an alignment-versatile combo tight end with the talent to start in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Ohio State\u2019s Will Kacmarek (15-168): Kiper\u2019s No. 10 prospect spent two seasons at OSU after three at Ohio.<\/p>\n
Zierlein said teams \u201clooking to prioritize their run-game improvement should be interested on Day 3.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Others include TCU\u2019s DJ Rogers (more of a depth player who \u201cshould be in the conversation as a Day 3 pick,\u201d Zierlein said.), Temple\u2019s Peter Clarke (30-483-6 TDs) and Arizona State\u2019s Chamon Metayer (38-375-4 TDs).<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my piece<\/a> on the Dolphins\u2019 search for a safety in the draft and their options.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my look<\/a> at edge players in the draft.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my look at cornerback<\/a> in the draft.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my look at<\/a> offensive line options in the draft.<\/p>\n This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 9:44 AM.<\/p>\n
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