MIAMI GARDENS — There was some extent final season the place it appeared not solely have been the Miami Dolphins again from an early-season hunch, however so was Jaylen Waddle.
The large receiver managed simply 310 yards and a landing on 28 receptions because the Dolphins sputtered to a 2-6 begin. Miami’s offense fell sufferer to inconsistent quarterback play (and availability) and that trickled all the way down to the large receivers.
However the Dolphins gained 4 occasions in a five-game stretch beginning in Week 10, when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was wholesome and the offense started to jell. Waddle sparked to life with 390 receiving yards in that span — a tempo that over a season would have given him 1,326 yards.
Though Waddle finally fell in need of recording his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season, Miami believes his play inside a wholesome offense final season leaves little to no trigger for concern in 2025.
His manufacturing throughout the offseason program has left Dolphins staffers feeling vindicated in that perception.
“I believe he is proven his teammates who he actually is,” coach Mike McDaniel stated. “I believe one factor which you could’t actually reduce is from a receiver’s perspective, having quarterbacks that you simply did not even apply with in coaching camp — that is a troublesome activity. The best way he labored on his sport throughout the season has transferred into what we have to see from him, from each participant.”
Waddle completed the 2024 season with 744 yards and two touchdowns on 58 receptions, all career-lows. He signed a three-year, $84.75 million extension final offseason, which kicks in for 2026; the extension made him the Tenth-highest paid receiver within the NFL.
With the assistance of recent large receivers coach Robert Prince, Waddle may get again to enjoying like one.
Waddle admitted that final season was “undoubtedly the 12 months that I did not need as a person,” and he recognized an space in his sport that wanted speedy enchancment.
“After watching the movie, undoubtedly a variety of hand eye (coordination) — I really feel like I am making an attempt to maneuver with out the ball an excessive amount of,” he stated. “And simply the straightforward issues, simply timing, getting smoother out and in of my routes. Just about that.”
The Dolphins employed Prince in January. When the group returned to the apply discipline, he challenged his receivers to study an unconventional ability — juggling. Waddle stated it is meant to enhance hand-eye coordination, earlier than playfully boasting about studying the ability in two days.
Conferences with Prince aren’t essentially enjoyable, however Waddle stated they’re definitely a problem.
“‘RP,’ he is simply bringing a special dynamic to the room. He is making us work on and off the sphere,” he stated. “The assembly room, you have to be in your P’s and Q’s as a result of he’ll ask you one thing from two weeks in the past. So RP has been nice for us, we love him loads. We love all of the challenges that he provides us each day and weekly. RP is doing an awesome job.”
With Tyreek Hill rehabbing a wrist damage this offseason, Waddle has operated because the group’s No. 1 receiver throughout OTAs and minicamp. Hill can nonetheless be heard from the sidelines throughout group drills, however Dolphins gamers and coaches have credited Waddle for serving to set the tone at practices.
These practices have additionally confirmed to be invaluable reps for Waddle with Tagovailoa, with whom he has performed courting to their days at Alabama.
“We’re persevering with to develop our chemistry with each other,” Tagovailoa stated final month. “For the previous 12 months, for the previous two years, it is actually been me and ‘Reek type of getting on that very same web page. But when me and Waddle can get collectively and proceed to make strides all through these previous few days of minicamp, I believe it should lead into some fairly good issues getting ready us for coaching camp.”
Regardless of enjoying with 4 quarterbacks final season, Waddle did not blame inconsistencies on the place for his down 12 months.
From McDaniel’s perspective, Waddle’s willingness to just accept accountability for his personal manufacturing is indicative of his character and an instance of the tradition the group is making an attempt to construct in 2025.
“I believe therein proves who he’s — the place he does not make it a factor as a result of it wasn’t,” McDaniel stated. “His sport is rising and he’s going to search out methods to exceed each 12 months as he is aware of to be the usual now. … It is type of like a badge of honor in that he does not see it that means, nor ought to he, and he is a safe participant that’s engaged on his craft and the returns on that, he is aware of along with his life knowledge that the returns can be very favorable.”