TE Allen makes a free-agent visit

Primarily a blocker with Patriots, veteran looking for new team

The Miami Dolphins hosted former Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen on a free-agent Friday, becoming the third team he met with since New England released him earlier this week.

Allen, who spent the past two seasons with the Patriots after a five-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts, reportedly also met with the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.

Allen, a former Clemson standout, was a third-round pick of the Colts in 2012. He has started 72 games during his seven NFL seasons.

Allen caught 139 passes for 1,564 yards and 20 touchdowns during his career, but most of that productivity came in the five seasons he spent with the Colts. He caught just 13 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown in 29 regular-season games for the Patriots, who primarily used him as a blocker.

The Dolphins could benefit from having an in-line blocking tight end because Miami’s depth at that position is thin.

Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins’ 2018 second-round pick, struggled as a blocker and Durham Smythe, a fourth-round pick in 2018, had difficulty creating separation from defenders.

If Miami signs Allen, he’d become the first former Patriots player that coach Brian Flores, a former New England assistant, adds to his new team.

Flores and a significant portion of his coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea, come from New England, so there’s a possibility their relationship with Allen, and his familiarity with the offense Miami will soon install, could factor into the decision-making process.

Outside of Gesicki and Smythe, the Dolphins also have Nick’O’Leary on the roster. Miami typically carries three or four tight ends on the 53-man roster. MarQueis Gray and A.J. Derby are slated to become unrestricted free agents next week.

Allen can sign a contract at any point because he was released, which means he doesn’t have to wait for the start of free agency on March 13 to sign a deal with a new team. Free agents re-signing with their current team and all players that have been released can immediately agree to deals with new teams.