Henry McKenna
AFC East Reporter
The Miami Dolphins confirmed what we already knew after they prolonged receiver Jaylen Waddle to a deal price as much as $84.75 million over three years on Thursday. He’ll earn only a hair in need of what Tyreek Hill is about to make, with Hill’s contract exceeding Waddle’s deal by $750,000 per yr in common annual worth.
There isn’t any WR2 within the Dolphins offense.
Tyreek is WR1a. Simply barely, Waddle is WR1b.
Over the previous two seasons, Waddle averaged 2.73 yards per route run. That is fourth amongst NFL receivers, with Hill rating No. 1 at 3.64. Sure, Miami’s offense elevates Waddle, with coach Mike McDaniel growing a novel and prolific system. However scheme can solely go to this point. It is clear that Waddle is among the many finest receivers within the NFL, even when he isn’t one of the best receiver on his personal staff.
And that is paying homage to what the Indianapolis Colts as soon as regarded like. Reggie Wayne performed alongside Marvin Harrison for years — even when Wayne established early that he could possibly be every other staff’s WR1. Finally, Harrison retired and Wayne received his likelihood to shine. It went properly — to say the least. Provided that Hill, 30, has mentioned an early retirement, the Dolphins are sensible to safe their future on the place with the 25-year-old Waddle.
After all, Waddle’s contract may not have been the Dolphins’ high precedence heading into this offseason. That was possible quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s deal.
By paying Waddle first, there is likely to be just a few issues. First, the cash the Dolphins used for Waddle is cash they cannot use for his or her QB. Second, the Dolphins now have the costliest WR tandem within the NFL, a sign that Tua is not precisely doing the heavy lifting on this offense. His receivers are. All of it creates leverage for the Dolphins, who can say to Tua: Look how good your weapons are! (With the tacit implication being: Are you solely nearly as good as your weapons?)
The opposite impending uncertainty for the Dolphins would be the offensive line. Miami has struggled to get dependable play out of its guards in recent times. And whereas left sort out Terron Armstead is among the high performers at his place, he has not performed greater than 13 video games in any of the previous three seasons. In 2023, he performed 10 video games and appeared on the damage report for 13 of 17 weeks (excluding the bye). There’s at all times a trade-off. Whereas Miami’s receiver place is now as safe because it will get, GM Chris Grier made his life tougher in piecing collectively a reliable offensive line.
Dolphins reign supreme on Nick Wright’s Finest AFC WR Duos listing
To alleviate the considerations across the offensive line, Waddle and Hill, with their fast separation abilities, should shorten Tua’s time to throw, which was first within the NFL final yr (2.36 seconds). The thought is that even a replacement-level guard can maintain up for a minimum of 2.36 seconds. It ought to assist, too, that Tagovailoa is shedding weight to be able to transfer extra nimbly within the pocket — maybe giving him extra potential to increase the play for fractions of a second.
It is extra of the identical for the Dolphins, with slight alterations right here and there. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., for instance, is a type of alterations. You could possibly make the case that Beckham, who signed with Miami this offseason, is one of the best WR3 within the NFL. And that Waddle is one of the best WR2. And that Hill is one of the best WR1.
The Dolphins are operating their offense — and, actually, their total staff — via their receivers. That is why Waddle is about to make practically as a lot cash as every other wideout within the NFL. Miami will stay or die with Hill, Waddle and Beckham. That is what the cash plainly tells us.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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