Can Long Become X-Factor for Dolphins Offense?

2021 third-round pick Hunter Long is back stronger for his second season and looking to carve out a role in the Miami Dolphins offense
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The Miami Dolphins got major contributions from their four first- and second-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft, and the hope is that third-round pick Hunter Long will join the party in his second season.

The tight end from Boston College had little impact as a rookie buried on the depth chart, but the Dolphins drafted him for a reason.

One reason for optimism, besides Long having gained a year of experience, is that he looks bigger and stronger than he did as a rookie.

To that end, Long figures to be much more effective if he's called on to block in 2022, something tight ends are expected to do in the offensive scheme that new head coach Mike McDaniel has brought with him from San Francisco.

Dolphins Have Same Tight End Group

The Dolphins still have the same five tight ends they had on the roster last season after re-signing Durham Smythe as a free agent and putting the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki, with Cethan Carter and Adam Shaheen the other two.

Long was behind all four last season, but he certainly would seem to have the opportunity to jump ahead of at least Carter and Shaheen in 2022 if he shows the desired improvement from last year.

It may be that Long could become the second receiving tight end at option behind Gesicki and the second blocking option behind Smythe, which certainly would make him valuable for the offense.

"I just need to show more what I can do," Long said. "And I'm confident I'll do it this year and carve out a role."

When talking about all the reasons for optimism for the 2022 offense, improvement from Long isn't typically — if ever — mentioned, but it still could be a factor.

Looking Back at Hunter Long's Rookie Season

Let's face it, pretty much anything the Dolphins can get from Long will be an improvement from last season when Long had one catch for 8 yards all season.

It wasn't a totally wasted rookie year for Long, however.

"Yeah, I mean, I learned a lot on and off the field," Long said. "I mean, it's a huge, huge growing phase for anyone to make that leap. And I learned a lot about myself and what I can do, and my work ethic hasn't changed. I'm gonna come out and do what I do, and how much I plan and when, that's up to them. So I'm gonna keep doing what I can do and try to help the team as much as I can."

Long is listed at 6-5, 253 on the Dolphins roster, which are his same dimensions as last year. But his body absolutely looks different.

"I definitely bulked up," he said. "I haven't gained much weight, but I gained some gain some muscle, lost some fat. Just trying to do what I can do. I tried to attack it this offseason and I'm gonna keep attacking it.

"Everyone kind of watches their own tape and everyone can see it on tape. So those were changes that I felt I needed and I tried to attack it."

Whether a stronger, more experienced Long will mean a better, more productive Long for the offense remains to be seen. But if that happens, it will be just one more added piece for a Dolphins offense already filled with promise.


Published
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.