Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle eyes bounce back, dissects new training techniques

A little more than a year ago, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle inked a three-year, $84.75 million extension.

The deal keeps Waddle in Miami through the 2027 season. It also rewards Waddle, as he is just the second player in franchise history to total over 300 receptions with 4,000-plus receiving yards in the first four seasons of his NFL career.

Drafted in the 2021 NFL draft with the sixth overall pick, Waddle has had some outstanding moments. But, Waddle may still be closing in on his maximum potential as a could-be, perhaps soon-to-be alpha, No. 1 receiver.

Current top Miami wide out Tyreek Hill could be on borrowed time in Miami Gardens, and this is likely his last season with the Dolphins.

Meeting with South Florida reporters on Tuesday, Waddle was asked about another prolific pair of pass-catchers in the NFL, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

With both Bengal targets being No. 1 type players, Waddle was asked how he views himself right now. Is he a 1B or a No. 2?

“I just go out there and do my job, man. Whatever they ask me to do, I just go out there and do it and try to do it at a high level and consistent. I don’t look at No. 1 or 2. We’ve got a lot of players that can make a lot of plays to try to get the ball to. So when they call my number, I just try to make a play,” Waddle said.

Last season statistically was Waddle’s worst as a pro, posting career lows with 58 receptions, 744 yards, and just two touchdowns. He missed two games late in the season, basically three after leaving the Houston game with an injury. He was without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for five games as well.

However, Waddle has shown sparks of brilliant play. As a rookie, he broke the NFL record for receptions for a first-year player with 104, only to be surpassed by Puka Nacua a few years later in 2023. He set the Dolphins franchise mark as a rookie for receiving yards with 1,015. In 2022, he followed up with a league-leading 18.1 yards per reception across his 75 catches and 1,356 yards.

This was of course Hill’s first season in Miami, helping Waddle greatly. The 2023 season wasn’t necessarily a regression in his 14 games played, but he wasn’t able to replicate or improve from his second season.

In 2025, Waddle realizes last season is something to leave in the rear-view mirror.

“Definitely not the year we wanted as a team. Definitely the year that I didn’t want as an individual, but lucky for me, we get to go back, same quarterback, same head coach, OC and run it back,” Waddle said.

With the Dolphins looking at what could be considered a “soft reset” or “retool”—however you want to slice it—Waddle seems to be sensing a shift in team mindset and identity.

“I think the foundation that we are setting here in OTAs is going to really help us in training camp and lead us to the season,” Waddle told reporters.

As for how he is handling the early going of OTAs and his seasonal outlook, Waddle wants to remain even-keeled and is focused on consistency.

“Just to go about my days. Have the same approach every day, no matter the circumstances. Have the same approach every day. Get the ball, don’t get the ball, ups and downs. Just the same approach,” Waddle said.

Waddle is even exploring new training regimens to improve his craft and hand-eye coordination. He was asked about being seen juggling at practice, and while Waddle downplayed the observation, it does make sense after learning it came from a coaches challenge.

“Oh, no. ‘RP’ [WR Coach Robert Prince] brought a whole thing in here that we do. He was challenging us to learn how to juggle. I learned how to juggle in two or three days. I’m just saying, if anybody can beat that, I don’t know.

“I was TikTok-ing and some other stuff about this juggling. ‘RP’ challenged us to learn. That was actually pretty fun. I’m trying to learn new techniques actually,” Waddle said .

A follow-up was asked on what juggling is supposed to teach him.

“Hand eye. It’s really tough. I didn’t know anything about juggling, but I learned in two days if I didn’t tell y’all that,” Waddle said as the media contingent laughed. “If I didn’t tell y’all that, I learned in two days. Two days.”

Pulling on the thread of new training techniques, Waddle spoke about certain glasses players put on during practice

“They flash. There are different levels, another thing that helps with hand eye. I really don’t know how to describe them for real, it just makes it real hard to catch,” Waddle said.

It’s terrific news for Miami fans that Waddle continues to hone in and perfect his craft as he enters a pivotal fifth NFL season.

Waddle and the Dolphins will continue their OTAs and prepare for a mini-camp before a few weeks off prior to training camp in July.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle eyes bounce back, dissects new training

Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle eyes bounce back, dissects new training techniques

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