When the Miami Dolphins made the decision to cut tight end Nick O’Leary earlier this week, it was a move that left the Dolphins with just two tight ends on their active roster — Durham Smythe and Mike Gesicki. And given how often the Dolphins implement multiple tight ends into their offensive formations, logic indicated that the Dolphins may address the position this week. Indeed they have.
The Dolphins have signed free agent tight end Clive Walford to the active roster, he will serve as Miami’s 3rd tight end as he’s brought back up to speed on Miami’s game plan. The on-boarding process should be pretty straight forward for Walford, as he spent the summer and preseason on the Dolphins’ roster before failing to make the team’s final 53-man roster ahead of the season opener against Baltimore.
The Dolphins first brought Walford into the picture this offseason to challenge for a spot as a low-risk signing. His relationship and history with now-Dolphins executive Reggie McKenzie was undoubtedly a big catalyst to Miami’s interest — and now Walford will have the opportunity to reclaim some of the magic of his first two seasons in the NFL, in which Walford was a productive player for the Oakland Raiders under McKenzie’s watch.
The Dolphins roster is one that likely will always carry a minimum of three tight ends — so Walford figures to be safe for the rest of the season unless the Dolphins find a tight end they’re more intrigued by on the waiver wire over the course of the coming weeks.
