The Dolphins sit at pick No. 197, and, with need still at tight end, they enter the sixth round with multiple picks until their selection.
Looking at this specific position, they currently have Durham Smythe, who’s earned an opportunity to enter 2023 as a starter. Smythe is a workman-like player who can block and finished last season with a 75% catch rate.
Additionally, Miami signed Denver Broncos free agent Eric Saubert, and they have tight end/wide receiver Tanner Conner on the roster as well. Adding a project could be a smart move, and when looking at the speed dynamic of the Dolphins’ offense, Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz could be a perfect Day 3 steal.
Projected by many as a fourth or fifth-rounder, the sixth would be extreme value for Miami getting Kuntz, who actually graded as the NFL Combine’s top-rated tight end in Athleticism Score. He also ranked seventh in Total Score and 11th in Production Score.
Clearly a great athlete, Kuntz was a track and field star, specifically in hurdles, and could be a great project to develop. He ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, jumped a 40-inch vertical and put up 23 bench press reps. His broad jump was 10-foot-8-inches, his three-cone drill was done in 6.87 seconds and the 20-yard shuttle was finished in 4.12 seconds.
He has tremendous size at 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, and he can play several receiving areas of the field. Blocking, however, is a work in progress, and while that may not sit well with Miami fans, there’s another aspect of irony to this tight end.
Starting his career at Penn State, he decided to transfer to Old Dominion and ended up becoming a First Team All-Conference USA player in 2021. While coming off an injury in 2022, Kuntz was on pace to replicate his strong 2021. Setback aside, Kuntz could be solid stash value, especially if he can last to pick No. 197.
Kuntz is perfect for a fast offense as a potential complementary and timely weapon but could be someone who may have some work to do before making a full-time roster.
Regardless, he’s well worth a flier in the sixth round.
