What a rookie season for Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins. The former Alabama Crimson Tide Wide Receiver set a new NFL record and almost won the Rookie of the Year award. Will his rise to stardom continue?
Last season we got a close look what Jaylen Waddle is capable of. With 104 reception he broke the NFL record for receptions in a rookie season. Beating Arizona Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin who had 101 in 2003. What a debut. Now, in his second year, he will have to get used to a new offensive system and a new partner at wide receiver – Tyreke Hill. This is definitely bad news for defenses.
But let’s look back to his historic 2021 season. Miami’s season was a roller coaster ride. After winning the first game, the Dolphins lost the next 7, just to win the following 7. This makes the Miami Dolphins the first NFL team to follow a seven-game losing streak with a seven-game winning streak in the same season. The only constant was Jaylen Waddle with his record breaking rookie season.
Waddle’s 104 receptions were good for 1,015 yards on 140 targets. He caught 6 touchdowns and fumbled twice. Jaylen only averaged 9.8 yards per receptions but this should be no concern, as we can expect this to rise in the future. What also stood out was his partnership with QB Tua Tagovailoa. The pair were teammates already at Alabama, so their chemistry will only become stronger.
This season should be the next step for the young wide receiver. With the addition of Tyreke Hill, Waddle should get open more often and see fewer double coverages. This will also allow Miami’s No. 17 to get deeper targets and therefore more yardage. On the downside, Hill’s presence will decrease Waddle’s target share and catch numbers. So it won’t come as a surprise if we see the 23 year old rush more in Coach McDaniel’s system.
Prediction:
What we are going to witness is the making of a superstar. If Waddle can stay healthy, the Dolphins will have a lot to look forward to in the coming years – an exciting young wide receiver, a great partnership with a very talented quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, and lots of Playoff games.
Photo credits: Miami Dolphins
