Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle Aims for Bounce-Back Season in 2025

Jaylen Waddle didn’t get off to the start he wanted last season. Through the first eight games, the Miami Dolphins were just 2–6, and Waddle managed only 310 yards and one touchdown on 28 catches. Inconsistent quarterback play and injuries across the offense played a big part in the team’s early struggles.

But things turned around starting in Week 10. The Dolphins won four of five games, and Waddle came alive — racking up 390 receiving yards in that stretch. If he had kept that pace all year, he would’ve finished with over 1,300 yards.

Waddle ended the 2024 season with 744 yards and two touchdowns on 58 catches — all career lows. He missed out on a fourth straight 1,000-yard season, but the Dolphins aren’t worried.

Confidence From the Top

Head coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins’ staff believe Waddle is ready for a strong 2025. His offseason work has impressed coaches and teammates.

“I think he’s shown his teammates who he really is,” McDaniel said. “I think one thing that you can’t really minimize is from a receiver’s perspective, having quarterbacks that you didn’t even practice with in training camp — that’s a difficult task. The way he worked on his game during the season has transferred into what we need to see from him, from every player.”

McDaniel also pointed out how tough last year was for Waddle, who had to adjust to playing with several quarterbacks, some of whom he hadn’t worked with in camp.

A New Voice in the Receiver Room

Helping Waddle get back on track is new wide receivers coach Robert Prince, who joined the team in January. One of Prince’s first moves was to have his receivers learn to juggle — a creative way to improve hand-eye coordination. Waddle said he picked up the skill in just two days.

“‘RP,’ he’s just bringing a different dynamic to the room. He’s making us work on and off the field,” he said. “The meeting room, you’ve got to be on your P’s and Q’s because he’ll ask you something from two weeks ago. So RP has been great for us, we love him a lot. We love all the challenges that he gives us daily and weekly. RP is doing a great job.”

Taking the Lead in Tyreek Hill’s Absence

With Tyreek Hill sidelined this offseason due to a wrist injury, Waddle has stepped into the lead receiver role during OTAs and minicamp. Hill still makes his presence felt from the sidelines, but it’s been Waddle setting the tone at practice.

The extra reps have also helped Waddle rebuild timing with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, his college teammate at Alabama.

“We’re continuing to grow our chemistry with one another,” Tagovailoa said. “For the past year, for the past two years, it’s really been me and ‘Reek kind of getting on that same page. But if me and Waddle can get together and continue to make strides throughout these last few days of minicamp, I think it’s going to lead into some pretty good things preparing us for training camp.”

Owning the Down Year

Waddle didn’t make excuses for his dip in production last season. He called it “the year I didn’t want as an individual” and pointed to specific areas he wants to improve — including hand-eye coordination, route timing, and smoother transitions.

“After watching the film, definitely a lot of hand eye (coordination) — I feel like I’m trying to move without the ball too much,” Waddle admitted. “And just the simple things, just timing, getting smoother in and out of my routes. Pretty much that.”

His mindset has impressed McDaniel, who praised Waddle for not blaming others or looking for excuses.

“I think therein proves who he is — where he doesn’t make it a thing because it wasn’t,” McDaniel said. “His game is growing and he is going to find ways to exceed each and every year as he knows to be the standard now. … It’s kind of like a badge of honor in that he doesn’t see it that way, nor should he, and he’s a secure player that is working on his craft and the returns on that, he knows with his life wisdom that the returns will be very favorable.”

A Big Year Ahead

Waddle is entering a pivotal season. He signed a three-year, $84.75 million extension last offseason that begins in 2026, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid receivers. With a fresh start, a new coach guiding him, and a healthy quarterback, he’s looking to prove why he earned that deal.

If the offseason is any indication, Waddle is ready to remind everyone just how good he can be.

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This report used information from ESPN.