The Miami Dolphins had the most explosive offense in the NFL during the regular season. They could score in bunches, quickly putting their opponents in a hole. But, when they faced upper-echelon competition, their production slipped.
Each team is going to struggle more against a top opponent than bottom feeders, but the difference for the Dolphins was drastic. That was evident as ever in their Super Wild Card Weekend game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which they lost 26-7 in arctic GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
For the Dolphins to find consistency on that side of the ball, they need to tweak a few things. Head coach Mike McDaniel did great adjusting from Year 1 into Year 2 and it is time for him to look to make another change this season.
NFL News & Rumors: Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins Updates
One suggestion made over at Bleacher Report is to find an upgrade at the tight end. Pass-catching tight end Mike Gesick wasn’t a fit for McDaniels’ offense as he needs blockers at that spot. This season, Miami received virtually no production from the tight ends on their roster.
That could lead to the Dolphins looking to make a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas used a second-round pick on Luke Schoonmaker in the 2023 NFL Draft and then watched Jake Ferguson blossom into one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL. With Schoonmaker being expendable and the Dolphins having a clear need, the teams could come together on a deal this offseason.
“Mike McDaniel needs a well-rounded tight end for his offense to work best. If they were to find a way to acquire Luke Schoonmaker they would have one the coaching staff could mold to fit their offense. As Knox noted, the Cowboys don’t have as much need for Schoonmaker with Jake Ferguson’s breakout campaign.
Any team facing the cap challenges that the Dolphins have should be on the lookout for draft picks where they can get them. It makes it a lot easier to field a full roster that stays under the cap with cost-controlled picks, even if they are early on Day 3.”
NFL News & Rumors: Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins Updates
Would Dallas give up on such a high draft pick this early on? It isn’t likely, but if they receive a strong offer, Jerry Jones would certainly think long and hard about pulling the trigger. With other needs on the roster, it does make sense to deal from a position of strength.
For the Dolphins, Schoonmaker would help them reshape their offense again. While they were explosive, it was clear they needed a few tweaks to reach that level in which no opponents would be able to slow them down consistently.
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