Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS — There was a degree final season the place it appeared not solely had been the Miami Dolphins again from an early-season droop, however so was Jaylen Waddle.
The vast 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 right down to the vast receivers.
However the Dolphins received 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 in the end fell wanting 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 feel he is proven his teammates who he actually is,” coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. “I feel one factor you can't actually reduce is from a receiver's perspective, having quarterbacks that you just did not even apply with in coaching camp — that is a troublesome process. The way in which 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 vast receivers coach Robert Prince, Waddle might get again to taking part in 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 instant enchancment.
“After watching the movie, undoubtedly loads of hand eye (coordination) — I really feel like I am making an attempt to maneuver with out the ball an excessive amount of,” he mentioned. “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 crew returned to the apply discipline, he challenged his receivers to be taught an unconventional talent — juggling. Waddle mentioned it is meant to enhance hand-eye coordination, earlier than playfully boasting about studying the talent in two days.
Conferences with Prince aren't essentially enjoyable, however Waddle mentioned they're actually a problem.
“‘RP,' he is simply bringing a unique dynamic to the room. He is making us work on and off the sector,” he mentioned. “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 rather a lot. We love all of the challenges that he provides us day by day and weekly. RP is doing an excellent job.”
With Tyreek Hill rehabbing a wrist damage this offseason, Waddle has operated because the crew's No. 1 receiver throughout OTAs and minicamp. Hill can nonetheless be heard from the sidelines throughout crew drills, however Dolphins gamers and coaches have credited Waddle for serving to set the tone at practices.
These practices have additionally confirmed to be worthwhile reps for Waddle with Tagovailoa, with whom he has performed relationship to their days at Alabama.
“We're persevering with to develop our chemistry with each other,” Tagovailoa mentioned final month. “For the previous 12 months, for the previous two years, it is actually been me and ‘Reek sort 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 feel it'll lead into some fairly good issues making ready us for coaching camp.”
Regardless of taking part in 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 crew is making an attempt to construct in 2025.
“I feel therein proves who he's — the place he would not make it a factor as a result of it wasn't,” McDaniel mentioned. “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 sort of like a badge of honor in that he would 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 together with his life knowledge that the returns can be very favorable.”
