The Tight End Situation

In 2008, the tight end position had an awakening with Anthony Fasano and David Martin heavily involved in the offense. Each had over 30 receptions for over 450 yards, and they combined for 10 touchdowns, including 7 for Fasano. Both ranked in the top ten in the NFL in DYAR (total value) for tight ends (Note: Football Outsiders only measures tight ends as receivers, not blockers), and both ranked in the top five in DVOA (value per play).

Still, while the tight ends were a great fit in the offense, enabled the Wildcat to be installed, and were very efficient and productive in the passing game, their ability as blockers seemed to diminish throughout the season and, in the case of David Martin, became a liability. Additionally, while nothing should be taken away from their productivity, the Football Outsiders statistics should be taken with a grain of salt because the nature of the Dolphins offense surely inflated these figures.

Both guys will be around this year, and we can expect similar contributions from the two of them that we got last year. So, for the time being we are set. This is where most analysis that I have read has stoppped, and where in my opinion, the real decision making begins.

If the Dolphins do nothing about the tight ends in the draft, it will become a major position of need in the next offseason. They would have Joey Haynos under contract, and nobody else. In the Dolphins' system, which requires two good tight ends, they would have the decision of either resigning their two free agents (expensive), resigning one and spending a high draft pick on a tight end (a different kind of expensive), or going with Joey Haynos (unproven) along with either a free agent or a draft pick.

In my opinion, the Dolphins can get away with resigning one of either Fasano or Martin next year (preferably Fasano because of his age and blocking ability), but resigning both would put too much money invested in the position and be a poor allocation of funds. Therefore, the big question then moves to Joey Haynos. If the Dolphins believe he can be a 30 catch tight end for years to come, then by all means sit back and pass on every tight end in this draft. However, if the Dolphins have their doubts about the 6'8" Maryland product, it might be prudent to bring in somebody to compete on the second day of the draft.