The Miami Dolphins already had a dynamic passing offense, but they spent time stacking their wide receivers room this offseason through free agent signings and draft picks.
The Miami offense has been missing a reliable third wide receiver for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a while now. Things were especially difficult last season for the offense when either Jaylen Waddle or Tyreek Hill was out due to injury. Miami signed pass-catching tight end Jonnu Smith very early in free agency as an indication this was a need they plan to resolve in 2024. They were also finally able to land Odell Beckham Jr. after weeks of rumors and speculation.
The battle for roster spots at the receiver position will be tightly contested. Here is a list of each receiver currently signed by the Dolphins and their chances of making the roster come this fall.
Tyreek Hill
The Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver is arguably the best in the game. Last season, Hill recorded 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023, both of which were career highs for the future Hall of Famer. Hill’s name was even swirling around in MVP discussions throughout the season, an award never won by a wide receiver.
Hill is known for setting lofty goals for himself since joining the Dolphins, resulting in his two best seasons as a pro. Could this season be the one where Hill reaches the 2,000-yard mark?
Chance at making the roster: 100%
Jaylen Waddle
Waddle is entering his fourth NFL season with the Miami Dolphins, who selected him No. 6 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Waddle was reunited with his former quarterback at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa, and the former Crimson Tide duo picked right back up where they left off.
Waddle has finished with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. After losing multiple key players in free agency, the Dolphins signed Waddle to a three-year extension worth $84.75 million with $76 million guaranteed.
Chance at making the roster: 100%
Odell Backham Jr
The Dolphins signed Beckham in early May after weeks of anticipation about the former New York Giants superstar’s arrival. The Dolphins came into the offseason in need of some more consistent receiving targets aside from Hill and Waddle.
Beckham Jr. spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens after missing all of 2022 recovering from an ACL injury. He had a decent bounce back season with 35 receptions, 565 yards, and three touchdowns. If Beckham Jr. can remain healthy, he should have the opportunity to do more than that in Miami.
Beckham Jr. should be considered around a 90 percent chance or higher to make the Dolphins roster. The only reasons it isn’t a full guarantee are Beckham’s age and injury history. There is also the unlikely possibility a younger player outshines him enough during camp to push him down the depth chart.
Chance at making the roster: 90%
Malik Washington
The Dolphins used a sixth-round draft pick in April to select Malik Washington out of Virginia. Washington fits the mold for what Miami’s offense does, as the team’s quick-decision offense combines well with Washington’s talents. Washington’s 2023 statistics were very impressive at Virginia, totaling 120 receptions for 1,348 yards and nine touchdowns.
The hope for Washington is that he can be the guy who can make a difference where the Miami receiving depth lacked a season ago. He will be competing for a spot on the depth chart and snaps with Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, Erik Ezukanma, and Tahj Washington. Even if he doesn’t play much in year one, McDaniel and the coaching staff will certainly keep his development at high priority.
Chance at making the roster: 80%
Braxton Berrios
The Dolphins re-signed Berrios after the receiver’s first year wearing aqua and orange. Berrios was the Dolphins main kick returner a season ago which should help him make the roster again. He is a former first team All-Pro kick returner, earning the honors with the New York Jets back in 2021. Berrios should be considered the favorite to maintain the Dolphins return job, although he may have some competition returning kicks with rookie wide receiver Tahj Washington.
Last season as a receiver, Berrios caught 27 passes for 238 yards and one touchdown. He was primarily used as a short-range target when the designed play did not materialize. There were moments early in the season when it looked like Berrios would have a consistent role in the offense, but it diminished as the season progressed
If Berrios loses his spot as a kick returner, he will have to impress in training camp enough to be considered the fourth or fifth receiver behind Beckham. Considering Beckham Jr’s age and injury history, the fourth spot on the receiving depth chart will be one Miami takes seriously. If Berrios is unable to outperform the younger players in training camp, there is a chance the Dolphins let him go.
Chance at making the roster: 75%
River Cracraft
The Dolphins brought back Cracraft for what will be his third year in Miami. Cracraft had stints in Denver and San Francisco before joining the Dolphins in 2022, although Miami is the first team to find a way to use him in their offense. Cracraft caught nine passes last year for 121 yards and a touchdown, but an early season injury forced him to miss Weeks 4-10, allowing other wideouts to establish a role in the offense before he was able to return.
Cracraft’s familiarity with the playbook could help him maintain his roster spot this August, but he will have more competition this year with Beckham assuming the third spot on the depth chart. Cracraft will have to compete with younger players who are hungry for a shot in the NFL.
Chance at making the roster: 65%
Tahj Washington
The Dolphins selected a second receiver named Washington in the 2024 NFL draft, when they added Tahj in the seventh round. Washington had a stellar season at USC in 2023 as the favorite target quarterback Caleb Wiliams who was selected first overall by the Chicago Bears.
Washington totaled 59 receptions for 1,062 yards in his final college campaign; however 5’10, 174-pound frame likely had a lot to do with him falling to the seventh round. The Dolphins clearly have a desire to utilize gadget players in their offense but haven’t quite found a consistent enough one. The drafting of Malik Washington and Tahj Washington shows their determination to do so.
Washington’s history and willingness to play on special teams with be a major plus for him as training camp approaches. He has the type of shifty style that could succeed in kickoff returns. While Berrios was a solid kick returner last season, he wasn’t groundbreaking either. If Washington makes headway on special teams early, it might propel him to a roster spot over guys who are more gifted wide receivers at this time.
Chance at making the roster: 65%
Erik Ezukanma
Miami selected Ezukanma in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, but he spent almost all of last season on the injured reserve after showing flashes in the preseason. Through two seasons with the Dolphins, he has caught just one pass for three yards.
A challenge that Ezukanma faces entering training camp is that the two receivers Miami drafted, Malik Washington and Tahj Washington, have similar skillsets as gadget players who specialize in yards after catch.
Ezukanma is no exception to the trend of Chris Grier drafting players for specific roles on the team. Ezukanma has the skillset to be a factor in this offense, and he might have gotten his opportunity last year if it weren’t for a neck injury that ended his campaign. One would think this year would be a prime opportunity for him to jump back into the role he was supposed to undertake last year, but the drafting of Malik Washington and Tahj Washington might be an indication the Dolphins patience is wearing thin.
Chance at making the roster: 60%
Je'Quan Burton
The Dolphins were not done bringing in young receiving talent after selecting two in the draft. Burton out of Florida Atlantic was signed as an undrafted free agent. He is another smaller receiver at 5’9, 187 pounds, but an elite athlete with high top speed who can make big plays off shorter catches. Even though he was not drafted, he has a chance to earn a spot on the roster if he can outperform a portion of his competition in camp.
Burton had a down year at Florida Atlantic in 2023, recording 24 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns. These numbers were all setbacks from his 2022 campaign. This regression is probably one of the main reasons he was not drafted.
There is a chance that if Burton impresses enough in camp, McDaniel and the coaching staff could give him a shot during the regular season. But they will likely prioritize the development of Malik Washington and Tahj Washington while Burton is either kept on the practice squad or cut all together.
Chance at making the roster: 35%
Anthony Schwartz
The Dolphins brought in former Cleveland Browns wideout Anthony Schwartz for a chance to earn a spot on the Miami roster this August.
Schwartz was a third-round pick of the Browns back in the 2021 NFL draft. He made Cleveland’s roster in 2021 and 2022. During those two years he appeared in 25 games, recorded 14 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown. He did not make the Browns roster last season after being waived from the injured reserve list in September.
Given his experience and potential fit in the offense, Schwartz will be striving for a role similar to Robbie Chosen or Chase Claypool last season — a player who is called up to the roster when injury issues arise.
Chance at making the roster: 30%
Braylon Sanders
Sanders has another shot at making the roster after spending last season on the Miami practice squad. Sanders played three games for the Dolphins back in 2022, he caught two passes for 17 yards. He will get another chance to earn a spot this year, but it will be even tougher for him considering the addition of Beckham and others.
Sanders will need to show improvement in his game from previous years in order to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Chance at making the roster: 25%
Matthew Sexton
Sexton joined the Steelers as an undrafted rookie in 2020 and has since had opportunities with the Chiefs, Falcons, and Patriots, yet none of his stops have resulted in him securing a spot on the roster. He even had an XFL stint with the Vegas Vipers in 2022.
It’s clear the Dolphins have cast a wide net for receiving targets this offseason, but the only real chance Sexton has at making this roster is if he’s made significant improvements to his game. Realistically, he probably has the toughest uphill climb of anyone on this list.
Chance at making the roster: 10%
