Smythe is signing a one-year contract with the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Dolphins took Smythe in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and then kept him on their roster (mostly as a blocker) until releasing him three weeks ago. He'll turn 30 in August and isn't likely to see many passes as the presumed No. 2 tight end behind long-time starter Cole Kmet. This signing is more about Chicago's running game than the passing attack, continuing an offseason makeover that's already seen the team hire a new head coach (Ben Johnson) and acquire two new guards (Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney).
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Durham Smythe: Released after seven seasons
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The Dolphins released Smythe on Friday.
Smythe was a fourth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2018 and appeared in 112 regular-season games for the team. However, following the addition of Jonnu Smith last offseason, Smythe's snaps and role took substantial hits. He played a six-year-low 32 percent of the offensive snaps and caught just nine passes for 53 scoreless yards on 14 targets across 17 appearances. Smythe turns 30 years old in August. The move saves the Dolphins $2.175 million in cap space.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Involvement plummets in 2024
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Smythe failed to secure his lone target during Miami's 32-20 loss to the Jets on Sunday.
Smythe's production totals declined notably due to the ascension of tight end Jonnu Smith in 2024, but to see him finish with just nine catches for 57 yards (on 17 targets) while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games was a more significant step back than anticipated. Though Smythe has one year remaining on his contract, the Dolphins have a potential 'out' this offseason for only $2.7 million in dead cap, a route that the team could realistically opt to take.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Hauls in only target Week 2
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Smythe secured his only target for eight yards during Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Smythe played 43 percent of offensive snaps Thursday, forming a rotation at the tight end position with Julian Hill and Jonnu Smith. It was Smith who led the position in receiving, securing six of seven targets for 53 yards, though he tied Smythe at 43 percent of the offensive snaps. With Skylar Thompson likely to start Week 3 against the Seahawks, and as long as Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol, Miami's passing game seems set to decline until further notice.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: No catches on three targets
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Smythe failed to secure any of his three targets during Sunday's 20-17 win over Jacksonville.
Smythe interestingly drew one more target than offseason addition Jonnu Smith, though the latter TE was able to secure one of those looks for seven yards. Though Smythe is the better blocker and Smith the better pass catcher, Miami seems willing to deploy both tight ends relatively interchangeably. Smythe, though, notably lacks the YAC abilities that Smith has previously demonstrated, so he'll warrant fantasy consideration only in the deepest of formats Week 2 versus Buffalo on Thursday Night Football.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Restructures deal, new competition
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Smythe restructured his contract with the Dolphins on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smythe is one of a number of Miami players to agree to restructured contracts ahead of the start of the new league year, freeing up some much-needed cap space for the team. As the Dolphins' top tight end last season, Smythe remained a plus blocker but finished with just a 35-366-0 receiving line, leading to the team's decision to bring in Jonnu Smith, a superior pass catcher with real YAC ability. That signing could spell the end of Smythe's brief run as a tight end with low-end fantasy appeal, though he and Smith do seem likely for a true split of offensive snaps. With Atlanta last season, Smith managed a 50-582-3 receiving line while competing with Kyle Pitts.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Modest numbers as top TE
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Smythe secured three of four targets for 12 yards during Saturday's 26-7 wild-card loss to the Chiefs. Across 16 regular-season appearances, he racked up 35 catches for 366 yards on 43 targets without a touchdown.
Smythe put together a career-best season as a pass catcher while operating as Miami's top tight end for the first time, barely edging out his 34-357-0 line from 2021. Of course, Smythe's real usefulness to coach Mike McDaniel's scheme came as a blocker, which is how he was deployed for the majority of his 757 offensive snaps. He remains under contract with the Dolphins for two more seasons, though the team has a potential 'out' after the 2024 campaign.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Effective on three targets
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Smythe caught three passes for 54 yards on three targets in Sunday's 56-19 loss to the Ravens.
Smythe did a good job Sunday, producing the second-most receiving yardage for Miami on the fifth-most targets. The problem is that Smythe rarely sees more than three targets in a given game, and unless a fantasy league gives points for blocking it's unlikely that Smythe will ever be as useful in fantasy football as he is in real life for the Dolphins. With that said, Smythe is a three-down player for the Dolphins and an important part of their offensive foundation.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Good to go versus Cowboys
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Smythe (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Smythe was limited in all three of Miami's practices during the week, but there's no concern over his availability come Sunday. He continues to see plenty of playing time but is used primarily for blocking in a Miami offense that predominantly features its wide receivers and running backs in the passing game.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Limited in Thursday's practice
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Smythe (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Smythe's practice reps were capped for the second day in a row, but he could still end up approaching Sunday's game against the Cowboys without a designation if he's able to participate fully in Friday's session. The tight end turned in his best receiving performance since Week 4 in this past Sunday's 30-0 win over the Jets, finishing with four catches for 32 yards on four targets.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Busy with Tyreek Hill absent
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Smythe secured all four of his targets for 32 yards during Sunday's 30-0 win over the Jets.
Smythe functioned as Miami's second leading receiver with Tyreek Hill (ankle) sidelined, though it was Jaylen Waddle (8-142-1) who stole the show. Still, Smythe logged his highest target and yardage totals since Week 4, so if Hill is unable to suit up again in Week 16 versus the Cowboys, he could warrant consideration as an emergency fantasy option for teams in need of a spot-start tight end.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Another quiet performance
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Smythe secured two of three targets for 16 yards during Monday's 28-27 loss to the Titans.
Smythe handled a substantially larger role than rookie Julian Hill in Monday's loss, a gap that had narrowed over the past three games, but he couldn't notch notable fantasy production with the increased opportunities. Pending the status of top wideout Tyreek Hill (ankle) for Sunday's game against the Jets, it's possible Smythe could get a chance to factor into the gameplan more as a pass catcher.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Cleared for Monday
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Smythe (ankle) does not carry an injury designation and is cleared to play Monday against the Titans, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports
After not practicing Thursday, Smythe was able to participate both of the following days, which has cleared him for Week 14. The 28-year-old is the top tight end on his team but has been limited to 18 catches for 178 yards and zero touchdowns on the year as he serves mostly as a blocker on a team with dynamic receivers that get the bulk of the targets.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Upgrades to limited practice
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Smythe (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Smythe was back on the field for the Dolphins' second official Week 14 practice session after he was a non-participant Wednesday. He's been able to play through the ankle issue over the past two contests, so Smythe is seemingly in good position to suit up once again this Monday versus the Titans. Though Smythe is the clear top tight end for Miami, he functions mostly as a blocker in the team's high-powered offense and has been limited to just seven receptions for 55 yards and no touchdowns over his last seven outings.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Ready for Week 13
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Smythe (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Washington, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Smythe should be fine to handle his usual role, which typically entails a lot of playing time but not many targets. He's been targeted on just 25 of 234 routes this season, with 10.7 percent being the second-lowest figure among TEs with 200-plus routes and fifth lowest among those with 100-plus. Teammate Tyreek Hill, meanwhile, has drawn targets on a league-high 37.7 percent of routes -- 6.2 percentage points ahead of any other wide receiver (Keenan Allen - 31.5 percent).
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Logs limited practice
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Smythe (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Smythe now has two more chances to practice fully ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders. However, with a 18-178-0 receiving line through 10 games this season, the Dolphins' starting tight end doesn't profile as a high-upside fantasy option.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Status in question for Friday
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Smythe (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Miami's estimated injury report Tuesday, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Smythe was forced to miss the Dolphins' Week 11 win over the Raiders while nursing an ankle injury, and his status to open the week seems to suggest that he is still bothered by the issue. The tight end's ability to practice Wednesday will give a clearer indication of his likely availability Friday versus the Jets. If Smythe is out again, Julian Hill and Tyler Kroft will again see increased workloads.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Questionable against Raiders
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Smythe (ankle) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Smythe practiced in a limited fashion Thursday and Friday after opening the week with an absence Wednesday. He played through this injury Week 9 against Kansas City prior to Miami's Week 10 bye, so the starting tight end is more likely than not to suit up come Sunday.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Back at practice
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Smythe (ankle) was present for Thursday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Smythe didn't practice Wednesday, but the tight end's return to the field Thursday is a good sign regarding his status for Sunday's game against the Raiders. The Dolphins' upcoming injury report will clarify whether Smythe practiced fully or in a limited fashion.
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Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Smythe (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
Smythe now has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's contest against the Raiders. However, with a 17-168-0 receiving line on 22 targets through nine games this season, Smythe is a factor only in deeper fantasy formats.
