The Miami Dolphins continue to make important offseason moves that they hope will set up their infrastructure for years to come. The hiring of the former Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager could help in that.
In a past couple of weeks that have seen the hiring of new head coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Dolphins have also moved to get help for Sullivan in the front office. They have recently acquired Kyle Smith to fill that role and be Sullivan’s right hand man. Smith brings a ton of experience and connections to Miami, along with a vision that could help shape the team.
Smith is the son of former Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, so you could say building an NFL roster is a skill that runs in the family. However the elder Smith’s biggest move occurred in the 2004 draft, when he oversaw the Eli Manning and Philip Rivers trade, and was named the NFL’s Executive of the Year. With that family pedigree, you really can’t go wrong.
Front Office Pedigree Meets Proven Scouting Eye
Kyle’s skill is also reputable however, as he actually got his start interning as a scout in Washington. During that time, he played a part in unearthing such talent as Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne and Montez Sweat.
During his transition to Atlanta, the Falcons were looking to make a huge offensive overhaul, as evidenced by drafting tight end Kyle Pitts fourth overall in 2021. After that, theyy drafted Drake London and Bijan Robinson in the subsequent years. The final piece to the puzzle was the drafting of QB Michael Penix Jr. in 2024.
While Smith was not the final decision maker in Atlanta, the fact that he played a role in finding and diagnosing talent that could turn Atlanta into a top NFC South contender could give Dolphins fans hope he could play an integral role in building a competitive roster in Miami.
A Long-Term Vision Built Through the Draft
What with the certain salary cap constraints that Miami will be facing next year, the front office for the Dolphins will have a lot of work to do to implement their plans for the long term. However, Smith and Sullivan seem to be on the same page as both think that being able to draft as much talent as possible especially on the offensive side of the ball could be key.
“It’s not going to be an easy road, but I think the journey is well worth going on,” Sullivan said Thursday, “and we will do it together and we will achieve together. When we get to the end of this thing and we hoist that trophy, we’ll realize that we started at the bottom, we fought our way to the top, and it will be one of the more special moments of all of our lives”.
Setting that foundation is paramount for Sullivan and Co., but making sure it can be sustained is equally important. With the addition of Smith, Dolphins fans should be feeling a whole let better about those goals.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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