The Miami Dolphins May Have Found A Hidden Gem At Tight End
Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
This has been a quietly good offseason for the Miami Dolphins, even with the loss of two starting defensive linemen. With Christian Wilkins signing with the Las Vegas Raiders and Raekwon Davis bolting for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency, Miami added some under-the-radar help with Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, Teair Tart, and Neville Gallimore.
They also found a new starting center in Aaron Brewer (who is replacing Connor Williams) while bolstering the tight end position with free-agent addition Jonnu Smith. As if that wasn’t enough, they brought in Marcus Maye at safety and the speedy Odell Beckham, Jr., who joins the team as the third receiver to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
This offense will surely be explosive but they could also continue to be extremely dangerous in the red zone due to another under-the-radar move which could move the needle. One of the more efficient teams at punching the ball into the end zone due to their ground attack in 2023, Miami suddenly has two impressive options at tight end.
One is the aforementioned Smith and the other is Jody Fortson, who boasts an athletic 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame and long arms. Undrafted out of Valdosta State in 2019, Fortson worked his way onto the field for the Kansas City Chiefs and played in 19 games during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His sample size was small, but his 14 receptions came on just 18 targets, going for 155 yards and four touchdowns.
After being signed as an exclusive rights free agent in 2023 by the Chiefs, Fortson dislocated his shoulder. He spent his final season with the Chiefs on the IR but walked away with three Super Bowl rings from his entire time in KC. He also boasts a title from his collegiate days, winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018.
Now, he aims to push the Dolphins over the hump and so far, he’s been doing everything they hoped he would. It still won’t be easy for him to see the field with Smith and Durham Smythe ahead of him on the depth chart, but Fortson’s receiving skills have him standing out, says ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
“Fortson has stood out during spring practices. He has a wide catch radius and has flashed the ability to pick up yardage after the catch. The former Chiefs tight end has a challenging road to a meaningful workload… but the early returns on Fortson say he will be able to contribute when called upon — however frequently that might be.”
Fortson has proven in the past that he has no issues overcoming long odds. He was originally with Erie Community College in New York before transferring to Valdosta State, where he drew the attention of pro scouts. He had an excellent career as a receiver during his collegiate days but was a ‘tweener in the NFL. His size and speed would limit him on the outside, but as a tight end, he could be a matchup nightmare, which is what Andy Reid was envisioning when he signed him in Kansas City.
He then spent two full seasons on the practice squad without getting a chance on the active roster. Finally, that changed for him in 2021, when he recorded his first career reception at the age of 25 in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. He followed that up with a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, then scored again when facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
Fortson’s hot start to the season ended with him on the IR after six games, but he bounced back in 2022 and appeared in 13 games for the Chiefs. He couldn’t become a major contributor with Travis Kelce and Noah Gray ahead of him, but remained a fan favorite. Fortson rarely disappointed when given a chance to compete — which is what he will have in Miami.
He’s more than capable of catching fire, as he showed in Kansas City, and he once again has a great offensive play-caller in Mike McDaniel. He’s not likely to be a premier playmaker, but he’s someone who can provide a spark, especially in the red zone. That’s bad news for anyone facing Miami, as they were already a pretty big problem inside the 20 to begin with.
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