3 Miami Dolphins who have to take the next step this season

Durham Smythe needs to become a serious weapon for the Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins were one of the NFL’s most entertaining teams in 2022, but these three players need to step up if they’re going to become contenders. 

Head coach Mike McDaniel successfully led the Dolphins to a second-place finish in the crowded AFC East last season, but there’s still a lot of ground to cover if Miami is going to catch Buffalo. The Dolphins need several key players to have career years if they’re going to go from entertaining watch to legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

In fairness to the higher-ups in South Florida, the Dolphins don’t necessarily need to topple the Bills in the regular season to be considered title contenders. Closing the gap could be enough to earn Miami a home game in the postseason. If that happens, this team has a chance to make a run.

That will require double-digit regular season memories. To achieve that feat, Miami needs improved production from the following three players.

Dolphins who need to step up: 3. Durham Smythe

Mike Gesicki’s taken his talents to New England which leaves Smythe as the Dolphins’ No. 1 option at tight end. That’s not a high-profile position in McDaniel’s offensive system, but that doesn’t mean Smythe can afford to repeat his 15-catch season from 2022.

Smythe might need to double or triple his production if the Dolphins are going to make the jump from good to great. He’s not going to scare opposing secondaries with his ability to stretch the field, but he can keep the chains moving for a Miami offense that wants to put up tons of points in 2023.

Eric Saubert and Tyler Kroft are lurking behind Smythe on the depth chart if the former Notre Dame standout can’t get the job done. No tight end is going to put up video games for the Dolphins this year but they can’t afford a massive drop off from what Gesicki gave them a season ago.