The key to one Dolphins weapon’s 2025 breakout might be simpler than you think

Wright actually showcased a ton of explosive play potential in 2024, despite his paltry 3.7 yards per carry average on the season. It's the runs that gain no yards that completely neutered his production profile and highlight where he must be a better player in order to earn triple digit carry opportunities this season. 

Wright, on runs that gained at least one yard from scrimmage, averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season. He logged 46 rushes for 289 yards on these opportunities and averaged over 4.3 yards after contact per rush. 

It's the runs in which Wright had to make a read in the backfield and chose poorly that are killing him. Nearly one-third of Wright's rushes last year gained no yardage or lost yardage. 22 carries for -40 yards, to be exact. On those runs, Wright was contacted, on average, -2.82 yards into the backfield per rush. 

Wright on carries that gained at least one yard: 
46 carries for 289 yards (6.3 yards per carry)

Wright on carries that went for no gain or lost yards: 
22 carries for -40 yards (-1.8 yards per carry)

Some of these runs are on Wright to read the point of attack in Miami's outside-zone heavy rushing offense and feel the cutback lanes afforded to him. Too often he continued to press his runs outside against a hard edge and got himself strung into the boundary. 

Others, such as the nine-yard loss he suffered versus the Jets in Week 18, appear to be a byproduct of miscommunications up front as the Dolphins were forced to shuffle blockers into new spots. Some of these losses are unavoidable — it's a byproduct of Miami's exotic backfield action and quarterback ball-handling assignments. But not all of them. That's where Wright must be better, especially with veterans Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert gone and a new face, rookie Ollie Gordon II, nipping at his heels. 

There's good vibes around Wright this summer

The good news? There seems to be some positive offseason momentum for Wright to be in a better place to make his opportunities count. His head coach, Mike McDaniel, highlighted during OTAs just how delicate of a line there is to do your job correctly and how he felt Wright handled his time away to be a better version of himself.

"I think Jaylen Wright benefited tremendously from coming into the league in a very competitive room. I think when that’s the case, you learn how little room for error you have to execute your job responsibilities or to have complete ownership of your assignments, because if you’re a hair off, or a hair late, or a hair indecisive, there’s decisive people who are talented that can contribute to the team. When we had exit meetings, I was talking to Jaylen Wright about being able to non-verbally communicate to me his hunger for an increased role. I see better than I hear, and four OTAs in, I can see him following through with that."

- Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel

Execute. A hair late. Indecisive. These are the buzzwords you should be seeking from Wright throughout training camp and the preseason when the pads come on. If he follows through with that growth, Miami should feel confident they have a viable second presence in the backfield to help make their running game go in 2025.