Jaylen Waddle flashing game-changing explosiveness for Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins used a top-10 pick on Jaylen Waddle because of the receiver’s explosive playmaking and he’s already showing his ability.

Even if there were other needs at the No. 6 pick, the Miami Dolphins ended up at that selection after a pair of trades and wide receiver was always going to be in play. DeVante Parker has finally found form in his career while Preston Williams offers upside if he can stay healthy. Additionally, the team signed speedy Will Fuller in free agency. Yet, Jaylen Waddle still made sense.

Despite missing half of his final season at Alabama due to a broken ankle, Waddle was Miami’s selection at No. 6 due to his ability to make big plays. Whether he’s taking the top off of defenses with vertical routes or making defenders miss in the open field with his yards-after-catch creation, the former Crimson Tide star was a huge gain waiting to happen in college.

Though training camp and the preseason have yet to begin, Waddle is already giving off similar vibes this offseason for the Dolphins. Per ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe (subscription required), Waddle broke off one 40-yard deep pass from Tua in camp that burned the defensive back group while also showing his speed a number of other times.

It’s just helmets and shorts when things can be different than in games or even full practices. However, Waddle clearly has elements of his game that can be devastating to opposing defenses. More importantly, he can be someone who offers the offense something that wasn’t there in Tagovailoa’s rookie season.

Jaylen Waddle can help the Dolphins get the best out of Tua Tagovailoa.

One of the big questions about Tua as he appears to be the unquestioned starter for the Dolphins now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is gone is whether he can throw the deep ball consistently. It was something he excelled at in college at Alabama but that he didn’t do much of as a rookie in the Miami offense.

But the key part of that which some fans seem to forget is that he didn’t do it much. It’s not that he couldn’t do it but that the Dolphins didn’t ask him to. Some of that was the young quarterback not being comfortable with the playbook after a shortened offseason that was also limited due to recovering from his hip injury. And part of that was not having the right personnel for it.

Waddle, however, is the right personnel. Moreover, so much of the buzz coming out of training camp has been the emphasis from Brian Flores and otherwise with Tagovailoa being aggressive. It’s hard not to think that having Waddle and, to a similar degree, Fuller is a big reason why. They now have the players that allow them to push the ball downfield consistently.

Big things should be expected out of the Dolphins in 2021. The defense was one of the best in the NFL last year but now the offense should take a step forward. Jaylen Waddle entering the fray is a massive part of that equation. His elite speed and YAC ability allow Miami to simply do things in the passing game that weren’t previously available to Tua or anyone else.