After posting three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, Jaylen Waddle saw a steep drop in production in 2024; finishing with just 744 yards and two touchdowns on 58 catches, all career lows.
But inside the Dolphins’ building, confidence hasn’t wavered. The team believes 2024 was more anomaly than decline, and that Waddle is set to deliver a bounce-back campaign that could outperform his three-year, $84.75 million extension signed last offseason.
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Waddle started slow in 2024, hampered by the Dolphins’ offensive instability during their 2-6 start. But when the unit clicked late in the year, so did he, racking up 390 yards over a five-game stretch with Tua Tagovailoa healthy. It was a reminder of how explosive he can still be when everything around him is functioning, especially when surrounded by other offensive weapons and a solid quarterback.
Miami is betting that version of Waddle carries over into 2025.
“I think he’s shown his teammates who he really is,” head coach Mike McDaniel told ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jaques. “The way he worked on his game during the season has transferred into what we need to see from him.”
To get back to that level, Waddle has zeroed in on fundamentals. Under new wide receivers coach Robert Prince, he’s been pushed to tighten up route timing, smoothen out his footwork, and even develop hand-eye coordination through unconventional methods; including juggling drills during team workouts.
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“Definitely a lot of hand-eye,” Waddle said of what he’s working on this offseason. “Just the simple things. Timing, getting smoother in and out of my routes.”
With Tyreek Hill recovering from a wrist injury, Waddle has served as the team’s de facto WR1 during OTAs and minicamp, and his chemistry with Tagovailoa has reportedly taken a step forward. That timing could be vital.
MORE:Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle sends Tua Tagovailoa warning to the rest of the NFL
While Hill remains the team’s flashiest weapon, Waddle may be its most important. If Miami is going to find rhythm early in 2025, it’ll likely flow through No. 17.
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Waddle’s ceiling hasn’t changed. He’s still just 26 and already one of the NFL’s most efficient big-play threats when healthy. What has changed is the narrative. After a contract year that didn’t live up to expectations, he’s entering 2025 with something to prove, and a clear path to proving it.
