After losing Mike Gesicki in free agency and including Hunter Long in the Jalen Ramsey trade, the Dolphins will prioritize one of their own tight ends. They reached an extension agreement with Durham Smythe on Monday.
The Dolphins are re-upping Smythe on a two-year, $7.75MM deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, adding that this agreement comes with $5.5MM guaranteed at signing. Smythe, 27, is now signed through 2025.
A 2018 fourth-round pick, Smythe has been with the Dolphins throughout his pro career. This extension is similar to the pact he inked last year — a two-year, $7MM accord — but Pelissero adds this one will bump his 2023 pay to $4.5MM. Smythe’s guarantees in his third NFL contract also surpass those in his second ($3.5MM). The Dolphins will undoubtedly add at the tight end position later this offseason, but Smythe’s role may well expand due to Gesicki and Long’s relocations.
Miami selected Smythe two rounds after taking Gesicki five years ago, and the former has proven a better fit in Mike McDaniel‘s offense. Although Gesicki played all 17 regular-season games, Smythe played nearly 100 more offensive snaps. The Notre Dame alum was on the field for 557 of Miami’s offensive plays in 2022, topping Gesicki’s 478. Smythe managed that total despite missing a game.
Like Gesicki, Smythe saw his receiving numbers drop in McDaniel’s offense. He caught 34 passes for 357 yards in 2021 but tallied just 15 catches for 129 yards last season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Smythe as a top-15 run-blocking tight end. The Dolphins are bringing back their entire backfield, having re-signed Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert and Myles Gaskin in March. Smythe will be tasked with helping this trio again in 2023 and stands to be a part of assisting future Miami rushing attacks.
The Dolphins have Smythe, the recently signed Eric Saubert, and 2022 UDFA Tanner Conner on their roster at tight end. Although an early-round addition should not be ruled out, Smythe will be a key part of McDaniel’s second Dolphins offense.