Miami Dolphins banking on Jaylen Waddle’s redemption season in 2025

After posting 3 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to statesman his career, Jaylen Waddle saw a steep driblet successful accumulation successful 2024; finishing pinch conscionable 744 yards and 2 touchdowns connected 58 catches, each profession lows.

But wrong nan Dolphins’ building, assurance hasn’t wavered. The squad believes 2024 was much anomaly than decline, and that Waddle is group to present a bounce-back run that could outperform his three-year, $84.75 cardinal hold signed past offseason.

Waddle started slow successful 2024, hampered by nan Dolphins’ violative instability during their 2-6 start. But erstwhile nan portion clicked precocious successful nan year, truthful did he, racking up 390 yards complete a five-game agelong pinch Tua Tagovailoa healthy. It was a reminder of really explosive he tin still beryllium erstwhile everything astir him is functioning, particularly erstwhile surrounded by different violative weapons and a coagulated quarterback.

Miami is betting that type of Waddle carries complete into 2025.

“I deliberation he’s shown his teammates who he really is,” head coach Mike McDaniel told ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jaques. “The measurement he worked connected his crippled during nan play has transferred into what we request to spot from him.”

To get backmost to that level, Waddle has zeroed successful connected fundamentals. Under caller wide receivers coach Robert Prince, he’s been pushed to tighten up way timing, smoothen retired his footwork, and moreover create hand-eye coordination done unconventional methods; including juggling drills during squad workouts.

Follow The Sporting News connected WhatsApp

“Definitely a batch of hand-eye,” Waddle said of what he’s moving connected this offseason. “Just nan elemental things. Timing, getting smoother successful and retired of my routes.”

With Tyreek Hill recovering from a wrist injury, Waddle has served arsenic nan team’s de facto WR1 during OTAs and minicamp, and his chemistry pinch Tagovailoa has reportedly taken a measurement forward. That timing could beryllium vital.

MORE: Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle sends Tua Tagovailoa informing to nan remainder of nan NFL

While Hill remains nan team’s flashiest weapon, Waddle whitethorn beryllium its astir important. If Miami is going to find hit early successful 2025, it’ll apt travel done No. 17.

Waddle’s ceiling hasn’t changed. He’s still conscionable 26 and already 1 of nan NFL’s astir businesslike big-play threats erstwhile healthy. What has changed is nan narrative. After a statement twelvemonth that didn’t unrecorded up to expectations, he’s entering 2025 pinch thing to prove, and a clear way to proving it.