Will Dolphins find long-term tight end in draft? Exploring the options
The Dolphins have high-end difference-makers at only a few positions, and count tight end among the many rooms that need one.
But Miami might not find that player in this year’s 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’s Kenyon Sadiq (widely projected to go in the top 25) and Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, whom ESPN’s Field Yates mocks 46th, three spots after Miami’s second-round pick.
Sadiq’s 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’s Daniel Jeremiah rates him 16th among all draft prospects. Philadelphia, at 23, has been a popular destination in mocks. ESPN’s Field Yates mocks him 19th to Carolina.
Jeremiah said the 6-3, 245-pound Sadiq has “outstanding 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’s able to separate vertically on seam/wheel routes.
“He 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.”
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.
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.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid said “Stowers was one of the biggest stories at the Combine, leaping 45½ inches in the vertical. Can play inline or flex out to create mismatches.”
He has just three years of tight end experience but “he’s an excellent athlete.. a natural pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and massive run-after-catch talent,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said.
Feedback on the players who would be options with Miami’s four third-round picks (75, 87, 90, 94) and with their fourth-round pick at 130 and fifth-round pick at 149:
▪ North Carolina State’s Justin Joly: I’ve confirmed 20 of the Dolphins’ maximum 30 predraft visits, and Joly is the only tight end among those 20.
Joly, who is 6-3 ½ 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.
He played his first two seasons at Connecticut, catching 74 passes for 828 yards and four TDs. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sizes him up this way: “Undersized 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” get open.
▪ Cincinnati’s Joe Royer (29 catches, 416 yards, four touchdowns):
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’s Lance Zierlein doesn’t view him as a potential NFL starter:
“He is better over the first two levels, with a more basic route tree allowing him to flow,” Zierlein said. “Royer has TE2/3 potential if he continues to polish his game.”
▪ Utah’s Dallen Bentley (48-620-6 TDs): Kiper’s 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.
“He has the build of an in-line tight end but mostly uses his size to occupy defenders instead of digging into blocks,” Zierlein said. “Bentley’s 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.”
▪ Stanford’s 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.
Zierlein said he “stands out as one of the few plug-and-play “Y” 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.”
▪ Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon (32-482, no TDs): Kiper’s No. 4 tight end: He’s poised to become the seventh Fighting Irish tight end drafted in nine years.
Zierlein said he “projects as a “Y” 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.”
▪ Michigan’s Marlin Klein (24-248-1 TD in his final of four seasons in Ann Arbor): Kiper’s No. 5 tight end “has a chance to become a Day 3 pick as a backup Y tight end,” Zierlein said.
▪ Ohio State’s Max Klare (43-448-2 TDs): Kiper’s 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.
Zierlein characterizes him as a “highly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level. He’s best from the slot. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches.”
▪ Texas’ 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.
Zierlein calls him “a quarterback-friendly “F” tight end who still needs time in the weight room.... Endries should develop into an NFL starter.”
▪ Southern Cal’s 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 “combination 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.”
▪ Texas A&M’s 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.
Zierlein says he has “flown under the radar but projects as an alignment-versatile combo tight end with the talent to start in the NFL.”
▪ Ohio State’s Will Kacmarek (15-168): Kiper’s No. 10 prospect spent two seasons at OSU after three at Ohio.
Zierlein said teams “looking to prioritize their run-game improvement should be interested on Day 3.”
▪ Others include TCU’s DJ Rogers (more of a depth player who “should be in the conversation as a Day 3 pick,” Zierlein said.), Temple’s Peter Clarke (30-483-6 TDs) and Arizona State’s Chamon Metayer (38-375-4 TDs).
Here’s my piece on the Dolphins’ search for a safety in the draft and their options.
Here’s my look at edge players in the draft.
Here’s my look at cornerback in the draft.
Here’s my look at offensive line options in the draft.
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 9:44 AM.
