The Dolphins have given tight end Durham Smythe a contract extension through the 2025 season, the team announced Monday.
According to NFL Network, the extension is worth $7.75 million with $5.5 million fully guaranteed.
The agreement also includes an increase in base salary to $4.5 million in 2023 and has a maximum value of $8.75 million.
Smythe, who turns 28 in August, racked up 15 receptions for 129 yards last season and trailed his performance in 2021 where he posted career-high numbers but was a confidence blocker in coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme in his first year with the Miami club.
He signed a two-year contract worth $7 million last offseason and was expected to have a base salary of $2 million in 2023.
Selected in the fourth round by the Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft, Smythe has 88 receptions for 809 yards and three touchdowns in his NFL career.
In the 2021 campaign, he had 34 receptions for 357 yards.
While his partner, Mike Gesicki, struggled to fit into McDaniel’s scheme that relies on tight ends to block, Smythe participated in the most snaps for a player from his position.
“The difference between a lot of tight ends is in those guys who have that ability to block, they’re really invaluable,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said in October.
“Especially in college football there are more tight ends with more ability to do things than those who play on the offensive line just to block. I think you can’t lose sight of what Durham has really done with his game since the day he arrived here and what he and tight end coach Jon Embree have achieved since then.”
“I think Durham has really grown in the last few months and that’s a result of how hard he’s worked with Embree. It’s fantastic.”
The Dolphins lost three tight ends this offseason as Gesicki signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in free agency.
Miami also released Cethan Carter and traded Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams in the deal that brought in cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
The Dolphins signed Denver Broncos tight end Eric Saubert to a one-year and could go for another with one of their four picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Tanner Conner, the rookie who was not selected in the draft last season, is the other tight end on Miami’s roster.
Smythe was one of the Dolphins players who could receive a contract extension this offseason.
McDaniel told the Sun Sentinel and Palm Beach Post at the NFL’s annual owners meetings last week that the team is talking with defensive lineman Christian Wilkins about a new deal.
Defensive lineman agent Zach Sieler said he’s also pushing for an extension, while Connor Williams, who has one year left on his contract, could receive a new deal after performing well as a center in 2022.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is also eligible for an extension but is likely to continue playing his rookie contract in 2023.
The Dolphins have already exercised their fifth-year option and keep him under contract through the 2024 season.
