Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
The 2018 draft class will be in line for extensions this offseason. In Miami, that means there will be plenty of focus on the future deals for Jerome Baker and Mike Gesicki. However, another player who could end up garnering a long-term fontract is tight end Durham Smythe, per Adam Beasley and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The reporters note that an extension for Smythe “would not be surprising.” After all, the 25-year-old has continually received praise from his coaches for his versatility, especially as a blocker. Plus, the former fourth-rounder proved that he could be an actual offensive weapon in 2020, an important development for a young and emerging Dolphins squad.
Smythe caught only 13 receptions through his first two seasons in the NFL, but he put up bigger numbers in 2020. The tight end ultimately started 13 of his 15 games, hauling in 26 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Smythe also saw consistent time on special teams, collecting seven tackles.
Beasley and Jackson also briefly preview the potential negotiations for Baker and Gesicki. If the two players aren’t extended, they’ll hit free agency during the 2022 offseason. The reporters opine that the organization could ultimately use the franchise tag on Gesicki, adding that it’s unlikely that the organization would go that route with Baker. Either way, the organization will have plenty of financial flexibility, especially this offseason; the reporters estimated that Miami will have around $34MM to spend.
The Dolphins announced the signings of three draft picks on Wednesday. Third-round linebacker Jerome Baker, fourth-round tight end Durham Smythe, and fourth-round running back Kalen Ballage have inked their deals, leaving second-round tight end Mike Gesicki as the last straggler in the team’s eight-man class. 
Baker was Ohio State’s leading tackler last year as he registered 72 stops in total. He also had eight tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in his final year on campus. As shown on Roster Resource, Baker projects to be one of the team’s first linebackers off of the bench behind starters Kiko Alonso, Raekwon McMillan, and Chase Allen. Some evaluators feel that Baker is too small to play linebacker at the pro level, but Alonso doesn’t seem concerned about the 6’1″, 229-pound prospect.
“Nowadays it’s all about, ‘Can you run?’” Alonso said recently (via Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post). “You see what linebacker position is nowadays. It’s getting smaller and smaller.”
Smythe, a Notre Dame product, put himself on the NFL radar with his blocking ability. He figures to do the dirty work while fellow rookie Gesicki figures to play a bigger role in the passing game.
Ballage, a tall running back at 6’3″, averaged 4.4 yards per carry while at Arizona State. He’ll likely serve as the Dolphins’ No. 3 running back this year behind Kenyan Drake and veteran Frank Gore.