Top 25 Miami Dolphins players countdown: No. 3 is Jaylen Waddle
This is The Palm Beach Post's Top 25 countdown of Dolphins players entering the 2022 season. We'll reveal multiple players each week throughout the summer, as ranked by our reporters using the simple criteria of — who's the better player right now?
Jaylen Waddle had more catches as a rookie than any receiver in NFL history.
Waddle caught 104 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns for the Dolphins, breaking a mark once held by Anquan Boldin of Pahokee.
Waddle was 8th in the NFL in catches.
He led the team with 140 targets, about twice as many as any other wide receiver.
And he led the team with 59 receiving first downs, as Mike Gesicki was second with 39.
"He like instantly hits top speed," Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham said of Waddle. "Generational explosiveness."
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In his first season, Waddle was named Miami's Most Valuable Player.
“When he’s got the ball in his hands, you know it’s kind of like Tyreek Hill-ish,” first-year Dolphins receivers coach Wes Welker said.
And that was before the Dolphins traded for Hill, which gives Miami perhaps the fastest receiver duo in league history.
"Dangerous," Hill said of their speed.
Why we ranked Jaylen Waddle 3rd
Waddle's production was on par with expectations, considering his status as the 6th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Reuniting with his Alabama teammate, Tua Tagovailoa, went as expected.
Waddle was Tua's reliable security blanket.
"He can get in and out of cuts," tight end Mike Gesicki said of Waddle. "He can make catches when he knows he's going to get hit... He's extremely quick. Has good hands. And he's a good teammate."
And there is the potential for more big-gainer plays in 2022. Waddle is further removed from a college ankle injury, which appeared to hamper him early last season.
Do not sleep on the fact that Waddle has covered 40 yards in 4.37 seconds.
"Burst," Welker said of what jumps out about Waddle.
Jarvis Landry (twice) is the only player to ever record more catches in a Dolphins' season than Waddle did last season.
Landry was an extremely popular Dolphin. And Waddle has quickly become a fan favorite, too. He's nicknamed "Penguin" and does a "Waddle, Waddle" dance in the end zone after scoring touchdowns.
Where we see Jaylen Waddle headed
Waddle's 9.8 yards per catch was tied for 109th in the NFL.
Huge factors here were the design of Miami's offense and terrible offensive line play.
First-year coach Mike McDaniel sees incredible yards after catch potential for Waddle. Consider what Deebo Samuel did in San Francisco, where McDaniel last coached.
It seems likely Waddle's catch total will decrease, with the arrival of Hill.
But in an ideal situation, Waddle has fewer catches while totaling similar yards.
McDaniel figures to use both Waddle and Hill in very creative ways, including lining up in the slot and outside, as well as occasionally in the backfield.
Waddle believes he will have a better understanding of NFL defenses in his second season. He wants to sharpen his route details, create more separation and take a step forward in consistency as he did have 8 drops, according to PFR.
Many players see an increase in yards per catch after their rookie season. For example, Tyreek Hill and Jarvis Landry each saw their yards per catch jump from Year 1 to Year 2 and then also in Year 3.
"I feel like I can do more," Waddle said.
Joe Schad is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Top 25 players summer countdown includes Tua Tagovailoa
