What became clear at Dolphins’ practice this week. And Waddle’s goal, Tua ranking and notes

A six-pack of Miami Dolphins notes on a Wednesday:

▪ With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins already had arguably the fastest team in the AFC last season. And Tuesday’s offseason practice offered evidence of why this team is even faster.

We saw rookie running back De’Von Achane — who ran a 4.32 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine — easily get to the perimeter on one running attempt.

We saw new receiver Braxton Berrios — who gets to his top speed quickly — zip past cornerbacks on two completions for sizable gains.

We saw new receiver Robbie Chosen - whose average speed per touch was second best behind Tyreek Hill’s in 2019 — easily get open on a deep pass that was overthrown by Skylar Thompson.

So this team will be blazing. Keep in mind that Achane has been timed as fast as 22.2 mph (at Texas A&M), Berrios at 20.78 (with the Jets) and Chosen at 21.3 (with Carolina, when he was known as Robby Anderson).

Also keep in mind that the 2022 Dolphins led the league in 20-plus mph plays from scrimmage, with 23, per Next Gen Stats.

Hill had 10 of them; he and Bears quarterback Justin Fields (9) were the only players with at least six touches that reached speeds of 20 mph.

So this team will be blazing.

“That boy can go,” running back Jeff Wilson Jr. said of Achane.

Waddle marveled at Achane, who also showed his speed on a 20-plus yard sideline reception on a pass from Tua Tagovailoa.

“I’ve been knowing him since he was in high school,” Waddle said. “So I’ve known he has speed from when he was younger. Having him on our team, it’s great. Stay tuned, man. He’s going to be one to watch. I’m definitely excited to watch him [get to] this next level.”

Of Berrios, Waddle said: “Just another explosive player added to what we already have — him, Chosen, ‘Ced’ [Wilson] — just adding on to make people game plan a lot harder.”

▪ Waddle said he’s determined to improve after a season in which he led the league in average yards per reception (18.1) and finished with 75 catches for 1,356 yards.

Waddle, who dropped seven passes last season after dropping eight as a rookie, conceded that “I feel like I was up and down last year.” The goal now is “staying consistent each and every week.”

Waddle has bulked up in an attempt to get stronger but declined to reveal his weight.

“I can’t tell you that,” he said Tuesday. “You see me run somebody over, then you’ll know. I feel bigger, stronger, faster.”

▪ The Dolphins have at least seven NFL quality receivers (Hill, Waddle, Berrios, Wilson, Chosen, Erik Ezukanma and River Cracraft). And unless the Dolphins keep seven receivers (which seems unlikely), something will need to change.

The fact that Wilson is guaranteed $5 million of his $7 million base salary makes it more difficult to trade him. Perhaps a team that loses a key receiver or two will have interest in August. But Wilson has no motivation to take a pay cut.

To his credit, he has remained professional and engaged, showing up for voluntary offseason workouts this month and agreeing to handle punt returns in the second half of last season.

Remember, he signed with the Dolphins before Miami acquired Hill, and never complained when his offensive snaps dropped from 528 (with the Cowboys in 2021) to 237 last season with the Dolphins.

▪ A benchmark for a potential extension for Christian Wilkins was established when the Giants signed Wilkins’ former Clemson teammate, Dexter Lawrence, to a four-year, $90 million extension earlier this month.

Wilkins, drafted 13th overall in 2019, had 98 tackles, including 16 for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 17 games last season.

Lawrence, selected 17th overall in 2019, had 68 tackles, including seven for loss, and 7.5 sacks in 16 games last season.

Wilkins declined to discuss his extension talks or whether there’s a significant gap in what the sides want.

“I let my agent handle all of that,” he said of David Mulugheta.

Wilkins will make $10.75 million playing on his fifth year option this season unless the Dolphins give him a new contract.

Of the Lawrence extension, Wilkins cracked: “I was excited. That’s my fat little brother.”

▪ Quick stuff, Part 1: Wilkins, on new coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense: “We’ve got some good stuff. Vic is cool. He’s definitely more of an old-school coach. He’s like a grandfather out there, but he’s good with the players and he’s good to be around so far.”...

Pro Football Focus rated Tua Tagovailoa 11th among quarterbacks in a piece this week, just ahead of Matt Stafford, Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr.

“Tua led the league with a massive 8.9 yards per attempt last season and also had one of the highest average depths of target, having been in the middle of the pack before that,” PFF said. “He has elite potential within Mike McDaniel’s offense but now needs to repeat it.”

▪ Quick stuff, Part 2: The front seven mustered at least a half dozen sacks in Tuesday’s session, but I wouldn’t overreact to that because the offensive line was missing Terron Armstead and Connor Williams…

Williams and Zach Sieler weren’t at the voluntary workout, and it will be interesting to see if the team gives them the extensions that both would welcome. Both have made a strong case; Williams was Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 center last season, and Sieler the No. 21 defensive tackle (of 127)...

First impressions of new backup quarterback Mike White weren’t particularly good; his interception to Jevon Holland was poorly thrown. In the early stages of his career, White has had a penchant for mixing one really good game with a couple of poor or mediocre ones.

Tom Brady joining the Raiders ownership group removes the break-glass-in-emergency option for the Dolphins if Tagovailoa misses extended time. As ESPN’s Jeff Darlington noted this week, “NFL rules require a vote of all 32 teams to allow anyone to play while holding a financial interest in a club.” You think the Bills or Jets or Patriots would approve Brady joining the Dolphins in the midst of a playoff race?