2018 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins 7-round mock draft in November
Round 6: Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Tight end has been an element absent from the Dolphins offense for decades it seems. I would have to think long and hard about the last legitimate weapon this team has had at the position. Adam Gase and the front office tried to remedy that situation in the off-season, bringing in former Jacksonville Jaguar tight end Julius Thomas. Thomas was an absolute beast in the red zone during his days in Denver. His offensive coordinator? Adam Gase.
The thought was that getting out of Jacksonville and coming to Miami would revitalize Thomas’ career. That being reunited with his old offensive coordinator would provide the spark Thomas needed to channel the kind of production that saw him briefly emerge as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Unfortunately for all parties involved, nothing could be further from the truth. The move has been nothing short of a disaster for the Dolphins offense, and Thomas is likely to be elsewhere come next season.
Thomas wasn’t the only tight end that the Dolphins brought in this offseason. Former Tennessee Titans tight end Anthony Fasano was reunited with the Dolphins organization, with whom he spent six seasons from 2008-12. However, Fasano was brought in for his prowess as a blocker, not to be the team’s primary offensive weapon at the position. On the season Fasano only has seven receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown. Miami would be foolish to rely on him as the primary tight end going forward.
Enter my favorite under-the-radar player in the 2018 NFL Draft, South Dakota tight end Dallas Goedert. Goedert is a name that is still unknown to a lot of people, but is starting to gain some traction in draft circles. I don’t anticipate him being available this late in the draft when all is said and done. For my money, Goedert is the best tight end in the class and is a borderline first-round talent. He’s being criminally underrated here.
Goedert is everything that Julius Thomas was in Denver, and then some. He has some of the best hands that I’ve ever seen from a tight end, and an amazing catch radius to go along with them. If the ball is anywhere near Goedert, he’s going to come down with it. He has the athleticism to be lined up outside in a wide receiver position, but is a strong enough blocker to be trusted as a traditional in-line tight end as well. He’s not the fastest guy at the position and not the most athletic, but he’s by far the most complete tight end available. Grabbing him in the sixth round would be an all-time steal.