Greg Dulcich

Dulcich has never completed a full healthy season; in 2025 he appeared in only 9 of 17 games, and his snap counts (29-52%) reflect managed deployment even when active. A second consecutive partially healthy season would severely damage his dynasty case heading into his contract year.

Dulcich played 2025 on a one-year deal, so it remains to be seen if the Dolphins will be interested in a reunion or allow him to test the open market. His 2026 status is unresolved.

Tua Tagovailoa has been replaced by Malik Willis, a run-first, athletic QB whose NFL passing volume and TE usage are deeply uncertain. This is a meaningful headwind for all Miami pass-catchers and caps the target ceiling for Dulcich even in a best-case depth chart scenario.

Tua Tagovailoa was released (he signed with Atlanta), Jaylen Waddle was traded to Denver, and Tyreek Hill was cut post-knee injury — Malik Willis now runs an offense that is 'quickly developing into a run-first' scheme. Total pass attempts are likely to drop to 280-310, capping raw target volume even for the clear TE1.

Mike McDaniel was replaced by Jeff Hafley (defensive background), introducing offensive identity uncertainty despite OC Bobby Slowik being retained. Scheme execution under a new head coach's oversight remains unproven and could take time to develop chemistry.

In 2025, Dulcich ranked #44 PPR averaging 7.0 PPG in a Tua-led offense with Waddle and Hill drawing coverage — yet still finished as a fringe TE2. In a lower-volume Willis-led offense, the ceiling is comparable or worse despite a larger target share percentage.

Dulcich flashed with Miami in the second half of the season (second in YPPR among TEs from Week 9 onward), posting his best statistical season after battling injuries since his rookie campaign. He posted a 26-335-1 line on 33 targets across 10 games down the stretch.

Waller is effectively done in Miami (likely NFL retirement) and Julian Hill departed for a 3-year/$15M deal with New England. The depth behind Dulcich — Ben Sims, Jalin Conyers, Cole Turner, Zack Kuntz — has essentially zero proven NFL production, making him the unambiguous TE1 with no genuine snap competition.

Hill and Waddle are both gone, vacating a massive target share to a WR room of Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington and rookies. Dulcich is positioned as a primary pass-game option.

Beat reporting has Dulcich as Willis's favorite/No. 1 target through OTAs, and the GM publicly named him a 2026 riser — 'it's why we brought him back.'

Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan publicly and unpromptedly singled out Dulcich as Miami's 2026 riser, a rare organizational signal that the coaching staff has a real plan to feature him. This kind of front-office investment typically reflects scheme design, not just depth-chart default.

Bobby Slowik's promotion to OC brings a TE-friendly system from his Houston tenure, where he regularly featured tight ends as route-runners in the intermediate game. This is a genuine schematic upside catalyst if Dulcich can stay healthy and align with Slowik's preferred usage patterns.