As Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle closes in on NFL history, why he’s just scratching the surface

It wasn’t a touchdown. And it didn’t even lead to points. But it might have been the most important catch of the season for Jaylen Waddle, a reminder of what his full potential can be in the Dolphins offense going forward.

The rookie wide receiver ran a corner route late in the team’s 34-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans and got past the deep safety, tracking a well-placed ball from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a 45-yard gain. It was the second-longest reception of the season for Waddle and, traveling 55 air yards, by far his farthest in terms of depth of target.

Waddle needs just three receptions in Sunday’s season finale against the New England Patriots to break Anquan Boldin’s rookie reception record, a testament to his high-volume usage in an offense that has struggled to sustain drives and score points. However, it’s his long reception against Tennessee that remains a glimpse of what many expected to see more routinely when the team selected Waddle with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 Draft.

“I think I’ve got room for growth always,” said Waddle, who was named team MVP on Thursday, voted by local media. “I look back on games and look back on film. I’ll probably watch a lot of the games after the season and just see where I can get better at. I see every week something I can get better at. There is a lot of growth in my game.”

Waddle entered the NFL with comparisons to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill as a player whose speed could torment opposing defenses and lead to more explosive plays in a Dolphins offense where those plays were few and far between last season. However, Waddle’s rookie season has looked more like the tenure of another great Dolphins receiver: Jarvis Landry.

Entering the final game of the season, Waddle ranks seventh in the NFL in catches but 22nd in receiving yards. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Waddle’s average targeted air yards — defined as how far downfield a pass-catcher is when targeted — is 6.9, which ranks tied for 22nd fewest out of 122 wide receivers and tight ends with at least 45 targets this season.

“If it’s getting the ball, getting the ball in space, going downfield, blocking, doing things like that,” Waddle said, “or if it’s taking two defenders with me so somebody else can get open or have an easier route, there are different ways I can help the team. Returning. Things like that. There are a lot of different ways.”

Waddle’s ability to be a consistent deep threat has been somewhat handicapped by an offensive line that has struggled, but the Dolphins’ coaching staff has made the most of the limitations, moving Waddle around the field — even lining up in the backfield — and trying to get him the ball quickly in space.

“You can see the MVP-worthy talent immediately,” tight end Durham Smythe said. “Just his attributes, how fast he is, he makes plays, he does this, he does that. I think as the season progressed, he became more confident. He’s a guy who is never comfortable with a five-catch, 100-yard game. He wants more always. I think that has kind of shown throughout the year. He’s still asking ‘how can I improve’ on a week-to-week basis and that’s kind of what he’s done. Obviously the stats show that and him receiving that [MVP] award shows how important he’s been to this team.”

Waddle said he’s not thinking much about breaking the rookie reception record, but it would be maybe the greatest accolade for a season in which he has set numerous records. About 20 minutes before Waddle spoke to local reporters Thursday, Dolphins great Dan Marino, whom the MVP award is named after, told him that he was the recipient. Waddle beamed as he told reporters his mother was a big Marino fan.

An award that draws comparison to Marino creates lofty expectations for anyone, but Waddle has set the bar high in his first season. And if the Dolphins are lucky, he’s just getting started.

“I think just knowledge of the game is always something that I can get better at,” Waddle said, “and really just studying my opponents in deeper detail, being one step ahead and knowing what I’m going to see out there, I think that’s big. Obviously, you always want to work on catching the ball. That’s always thing No. 1 for a receiver to work on. Details on routes, top of the routes and trying to create more separation. I’ve got a lot to work on.”

This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 5:20 PM.

Daniel Oyefusi

Miami Herald

Daniel Oyefusi covers the Dolphins for the Miami Herald. A native of Towson, Maryland, he graduated from the University of Maryland: College Park. Previously, he covered the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.