MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – One player on the Miami Dolphins who has shined throughout the voluntary organized team activities is wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
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During his media availability on Tuesday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel had nothing but positive things to say regarding Waddle, who is entering a very important fifth season.
“It’s exciting for me and exciting for when I go out on the field because he’s humbly approaching his craft, attacking it, so that he’s not satisfied with any part of his game,” McDaniel said.
2024 was Waddle’s worst year statistically, racking up 744 yards on 58 catches, scoring a career-low two touchdowns.
It didn’t help that Waddle missed three games due to a knee injury suffered in early December, followed by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s absence for six and a half games.
“Definitely not the year we wanted as a team. Definitely the year that I didn’t want as an individual, but lucky for me, we get to go back, same quarterback, same head coach, OC and run it back. I think the foundation that we are setting here in OTAs is going to really help us in training camp and lead us in the season,” Waddle said on Tuesday.
Waddle has shifted his focus to improving his hand-eye coordination, crediting new wide receivers coach Robert Prince for incorporating tennis balls during drills – with Waddle dropping eight passes in 2024 – the same number during his rookie year.
The former Alabama standout earned a three-year, $84.75 million extension last May, including $76 million guaranteed – averaging just under $30 million per year.
With uncertainty surrounding star wide receiver Tyreek Hill – who has expressed his desire to remain on the Dolphins despite several off-the-field incidents – Waddle is doing everything he can to emerge as the new leader in the wide receivers room.
“Have the same approach every day, no matter the circumstances. Have the same approach every day – get the ball, don’t get the ball, ups and downs," Waddle said. “Just the same approach.”
