Dolphins Projected To ‘Regret’ Cutting 9th Year Tight End
The Miami Dolphins made their decision and cut down to a 53-man roster earlier this week. Final cuts are never easy for the fans nor the coaches and personnel team who not only need to make the tough decisions – they also need to break to the individual players.
Despite the season having not even started and us being just a couple of days out from the announcement of the regular season rosters, predictions have started about how teams will feel about their decisions come the end of the year.
And one player who Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes could end up giving the Dolphins seller’s remorse (or releaser’s remorse) is tight end, Pharaoh Brown, who was released on Monday.
Moton believes that the injury problems relating to new TE1 and Pro Bowler, Darren Waller – alongside their general lack of quality depth at the position – could come back to bite Miami.
Dolphins Could Come To Rue Cutting Veteran Tight End
“Darren Waller had an extensive injury history before his retirement in 2024.” Moton wrote on Thursday. “If he misses time this year, the Miami Dolphins don’t have the depth to fill his void.”
“Between 2021 and 2023, Waller missed 19 games because of injuries. Entering his age-33 term, he’s unlikely to play through a full season. The Dolphins need an experienced backup to take on some of the snaps at tight end.”
Although Moton concedes that the former UDFA is not exactly a top-tier receiving talent, he does provide strong run-blocking capabilities and general positional stability for an otherwise weak position group.
“Pharaoh Brown isn’t a prolific pass-catcher who can compensate for Waller’s receiving production, but early in his career, he performed well in his blocking assignments.
Primary backup Julian Hill has played less than 49 percent of offensive snaps in two seasons. Third-stringer Tanner Conner has played just 70 career offensive snaps.
While Brown’s departure isn’t a huge loss, he could’ve been a stabilizing asset for a shaky, unproven tight end unit.”
What Is The Dolphins’ Tight End Room’s Outlook In 2025?
As Moton implies, much of the team’s future success in that department hinges on the efforts and health of Waller. After trading Jonnu Smith to the Steelers, the Dolphins managed to get Waller out of the depths of retirement and signed him to a high upside, low downside one year, $2 million deal.
The bigger downside may be that Miami has little going on in the room after Waller, who did not play a single snap in 2024 as he recovered from injury.
Waller is getting back into “football shape“, per his agent earlier this month – and should be ready for Week 1, but the questions about his health and overall ability to produce at a high level persist going into his age-33 year.
Perhaps Julian Hill or Tanner Connor, who have amassed a combined 164 receiving yards between them in pro football, can step up to the plate in case of injury to Waller. If not, the team could be yearning to have some Pharaoh Brown back in their life.
