Dolphins Potential Draft Target: TE Luke Schoonmaker
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The 2023 NFL draft is now less than a week away.
The Miami Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick (would have been 21st overall) due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, but they do have the 51st overall pick, a third-round pick (85) and two Day 3 picks (198 and 241).
Miami is hoping those picks can help them build on a roster that reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2016.
This article series is intended to be an introduction to these players so fans are familiar with a number of options and why they make sense for the Dolphins, and we recently have focused on prospects linked to the Dolphins in national mock drafts.
We’ll dive into some simple biographical information, the pros and cons of their game and how they fit into Miami’s scheme or depth chart.
MICHIGAN TE LUKE SCHOOMAKER
Basic background
Schoonmaker spent five seasons with the Wolverines but only started in his final two. He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons playing a rotational role and contributing on special teams.
He did end up starting 21 out of 26 games played across his final two seasons. Schoonmaker was not a high-volume target in Michigan’s offense, but he was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.
Schoonmaker was a three-star prospect out of high school, rated the No. 20 tight end and No. 2 player in Connecticut by ESPN. He also pitched on his high school’s baseball team, giving him the coveted multi-sport background.
Pros of Schoonmaker's Game
Schoonmaker’s value to NFL teams likely will center around his ability to contribute in the running game. Michigan’s offense revolved around running back Blake Corum for much of last season, and Schoonmaker’s blocking is just one reason the offense was so effective.
There are reps on Schoonmaker’s film where he shows the requisite power to move defensive linemen off their spots. He’s also good at sealing edges and collapsing down the line of scrimmage to create outside rushing lanes.
He held his own as a pass blocker when given a fair matchup. He’s not going to be an “extra tackle” on the end of the line of scrimmage, but he’s functional.
As a receiver, Schoonmaker’s best work comes off of play-action. He does a nice job running the underneath routes on those concepts and making the most of the space allotted to him after the fake.
Thanks to his 6-6, 250-pound frame, he also projects as a solid red zone target. Schoonmaker’s arrow is pointing up in this area as he jumped from 165 receiving yards in 2021 to 418 in 2022.
Cons of Schoonmaker's Game
Schoonmaker is a limited athlete and lacks a high ceiling as a pass catcher. He’s not a polished route runner, isn’t dynamic with the ball in his hands and doesn’t have the long speed to win vertically down the field.
He’s not the type of tight end who will worry defensive coordinators or challenge defenses.
While Schoonmaker is an effective blocker, he’s still lacking above-average functional strength. There are flashes of him creating movement in the running game, but he’ll have to be more consistent in the NFL.
In an NFL putting more and more emphasis on the tight end’s ability to be an asset in the passing game, Schoonmaker doesn’t project as someone capable of helping a team in that area.
HOW LUKE SCHOONMAKER FITS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
Miami has a need at the tight end position. The team extended Durham Smythe and signed Eric Saubert in free agency, but neither of those players projects as an above-average starter.
Unfortunately, Schoonmaker doesn’t project as an above-average starter, either. In fact, Smythe is a solid pro comparison for Schoonmaker regarding what role he’ll play at the NFL level.
With that said, Miami wants tight ends who are capable blockers. Schoonmaker can become an above-average blocker with continued development, specifically in the strength department.
He’s a good scheme fit too. Michigan ran plenty of stretch concepts last season, and Coach Mike McDaniel should have no issue scheming up positions for Schoonmaker to make easy catches in the passing game.
Chances Schoonmaker makes it to 51
Schoonmaker will be on the board when Miami picks at 51 and 84. Schoonmaker’s lack of pass-catching profile likely will push him down the board of many NFL teams. This year’s tight end class is incredibly deep, with plenty of prospects who offer more than Schoonmaker now and in the future.
However, on Day 3, Schoonmaker is a solid fit for the Dolphins. Adding another body to the tight end room — even if he’s Smythe 2.0 — isn’t a bad move that late in the draft.
If the Dolphins are looking for a tight end to significantly impact their offense, they’re better off investing pick 51 in the position instead of waiting on Schoonmaker.
OTHER POTENTIAL DOLPHINS TARGET SCOUTING REPORTS
-- North Dakota State OL Cody Mauch
-- South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft
-- Brigham Young OT Blake Freeland
-- Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron
-- Minnesota IOL John Micheal Schmitz
-- Washington State LB Daiyan Henley
-- Penn State TE Brenton Strange
-- Syracuse CB Garrett Williams
-- Georgia TE Darnell Washington
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