Examining the Miami Dolphins’ wide receivers, where they stand and their future
Throughout March, we’re taking a look at every key player on the Dolphins roster, with revealing metrics, how they compared to others in the league, their contract status and whether they’re worth keeping.
Today, in Part 2 of a seven-part series, we examine the wide receivers.
DeVANTE PARKER
▪ Contract status: Beginning a four-year extension that could be worth as much as $40 million. His 2020 salary ($4.5 million) and 2021 salary ($7.7 million) are guaranteed.
▪ How he played: Brilliantly. He finished fifth in the league in receiving yardage with 1,202, tied for third in touchdowns with nine and had 58 first downs on his 72 catches (the eighth-most first downs generated in the league by a receiver).
On throws that were in the air at least 20 yards, he caught 14 of 29 for 478 yards and five touchdowns (second most).
He was really good when used selectively in the slot: 11 catches in 15 targets, for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
He had five drops, but that’s not a bloated number with 119 targets. On the flip side, his 3.7 yards after catch average on his 72 catches was 115th of 197 receivers.
▪ The future: Parker, in a year, has gone from an underachiever to a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Miami gave him a lucrative extension late in the season and he figures to be a long-term piece barring a regression.
PRESTON WILLIAMS
▪ Contract status: Under contract for two more years (he’s due $585,000 this coming season) and then will be a restricted free agent.
▪ How he played: Williams caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns in eight games (seven starts) before a knee injury ended his season. Twenty four of his 32 catches went for first downs. The only negatives: Three drops in 59 targets and a 2.2 YAC average (179th of 197 receivers).
▪ The future: The Dolphins hope he will be back from anterior cruciate ligament surgery by training camp; Williams said recently that he definitely will be ready for the start of the regular season. He looks like a long-term rotation piece, with a good chance of being a starter, if he bounces back well from the knee injury.
ALBERT WILSON
▪ Contract status: One year left on his contract at $9.5 million, but Miami wouldn’t need to pay any of that — or have any cap hit — if it releases him. A new deal at a lower salary remains a possibility.
▪ How he played: Struggled in the first half of the season to regain his old form because of last season’s lingering hip issue and a September hamstring injury. But he played well late in the season, showing more elusiveness and closing with 43 catches for 351 yards. He’s Miami’s best option in the slot, with 35 catches on 48 targets for 296 yards and a touchdown when lining up there.
Two negatives: Five drops in 65 targets. And after ranking among the league leaders in yards after catch in 2018, he fell to 95th in that category this past season, at 4.2. That must change next season.
▪ The future: Likely would need to take a significant pay cut to return. A decision on that is pending.
ALLEN HURNS
▪ Contract status: Beginning a two-year contract extension, with $1.2 million of his $3.1 million salary already guaranteed for next year.
▪ How he played: Decently, though Pro Football Focus rated him 106th of 126 receivers. He had 32 catches for 416 yards (a solid 13.0 average) and two touchdowns but had five drops in 61 targets (too many) and just a 2.9 YAC average (158th in the league).
Miami used him some in the slot, and he caught 18 of 28 targets there for 259 yards and a touchdown. He’s an option there if Wilson doesn’t return.
▪ The future: He’s likely — but not definitely — going to be on the team in 2020, competing for snaps as a third, fourth or fifth receiver. It would get tricky, though, if a draft pick or Gary Jennings outplays him in August; Hurns could then be in jeopardy.
JAKEEM GRANT
▪ Contract status: Three years remaining on his contract; due $3.6 million next season. Dolphins can escape the deal after 2020 with no future guarantees; Miami would have $2.5 million in dead money if it moves on before next season, which is highly unlikely.
▪ How he played: Not as well as the previous season, but how he was used played a part in that. His season ended with an injury after 10 games and two starts, and his PFF grade would have been 95th among 126 receivers if he had enough snaps to qualify.
He was 65th in YAC at 4.9 and had two drops in 33 targets, finishing with 19 catches for 164 yards and an 8.6 average per catch number that was down from 15.6 and 12.8 the previous two seasons. Miami never maximized his deep ball abilities this past season.
Former Dolphins coach Adam Gase correctly moved Grant to the boundary two years ago, but this offensive staff tried him some in the slot, with modest results (eight catches in 14 targets for 58 yards when he lined up there).
His 25.1 kickoff return average ranked eighth, and he had the 101-yard touchdown return. He returned only five punts, with a 1.2 average.
▪ The future: Grant remains one of the league’s most dangerous kickoff returners but might need to get back to his 2018 form as a receiver to make it to the end of his contract. Playing him on the boundary seems like the better approach than in the slot.
ISAIAH FORD
▪ Contract status: Exclusive rights free agent, meaning Miami must offer him only a one-year deal at the minimum to retain his rights. That’s expected.
▪ How he played: Most of his 158 receiving snaps came in the final month, and Ford responded, with five catches for 58 yards and seven for 64 in the final two games. He played well the final two months of the season, finishing the season with 23 catches for 244 yards.
▪ The future: Has earned a chance to compete for a rotation job in 2020.
Others under contract for 2020:
▪ Ricardo Louis: He missed all of last season with a knee injury sustained in the offseason program, but the Dolphins want to give him a fresh look. The former Miami Beach High standout has 45 career catches for 562 yards for Cleveland in 2016 and 2017.
▪ Gary Jennings: The former Seattle rookie fourth-rounder was injured in his second game with Miami but will get a long look next summer. He’s under contract next season and will earn $585,000 if he makes the team.
▪ Mack Hollins: The former Eagles player is signed for $735,000 next season. He played 123 snaps on offense but had two drops in 22 targets and no receptions.
▪ Practice squad receivers T.J. Rahming (Duke rookie), Andy Jones (former Lions starter) and Terry Wright (Purdue rookie).
Returner Terry Davis is an unrestricted free agent.
Here’s part 1 of my series on where each Dolphins offensive lineman stands.
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 2:32 PM.
