All Dolphins

Gesicki Scoop: Smythe Returning to Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins continue to pattern of bringing back their own free agents by coming to terms with tight end Durham Smythe

Alain Poupart

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Anybody who follows the Miami Dolphins on a regular basis is aware of the bond between tight ends Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe.

So it probably shouldn't have come as a surprise that it was Gesicki who broke the news on Twitter on Friday that his buddy was coming back to the Dolphins after agreeing to terms on a new two-year contract. The news has been confirmed via a league source.

And, truth be told, Smythe being re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Dolphins was less than a surprise than the team placing the franchise tag on Gesicki — that he ultimately signed.

The reason there is simple: In new head coach Mike McDaniel's offense, tight ends are called on to block on a regular basis for the running game, and that's a lot more up Smythe's alley than it is for the pass-catching-specialist Gesicki.

It's why when we pegged the outlook for each pending Dolphins UFA, we had Smythe as likely to return.

Dolphins teammates from the start

Smythe and Gesicki, who regularly pumping each other's tired during media sessions when they weren't joking about the other, both joined the Dolphins during the 2018 draft — Gesicki as a second-round pick, Smythe as a fourth-round selection.

Each has seen his receiving numbers increase with every season, with Smythe coming off a 34-catch, 357-yard performance in 2021.

With Gesicki and Smythe back, the Dolphins again feature the same five tight ends on who were on the 53-man roster last year, with the other three being Adam Shaheen, Cethan Carter and 2021 third-round pick Hunter Long.

Smythe became the eighth UFA or pending UFA the Dolphins have re-signed this week, following Emmanuel Ogbah, Elandon Roberts, Duke Riley, Sam Eguavoen, Preston Williams, Brennan Scarlett and Sheldrick Redwine.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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