Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill led the entire NFL in receiving yards last season, but he thinks it’s Jaylen Waddle’s time to shine in 2024.
“I’d say All-Pro this year,” Hill said of Waddle on Monday. “He’s taken his game to another level in the classroom. He’s taking it more serious. … He’s asking more questions, which is great. He’s very eager to get better. And for me, I think, I believe that’s where it starts, if you want to be able to take your game to the next level as a not-ideal receiver size.”
Waddle, 25, has put up big numbers himself in the NFL. The 2021 top 10 draft pick has eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons with the Dolphins and his 1,356 yards in 2022 were seventh most in the league.
His consistency earned him an $84.75 million extension this offseason and Hill says the best is yet to come.
“I expect All-Pro, WR1, all that. Lead our team,” Hill said.
Keeping up with Hill’s torrid pace will be tough, though. The eight-time Pro Bowler topped 1,700 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons in Miami, becoming the first player in NFL history to reach that milestone twice in their career — let alone in back-to-back years.
It remains to be seen how targets will be distributed with the additions of tight end Jonnu Smith and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. added to the mix, although the latter will miss at least four games on the PUP list. In August, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa admitted the Dolphins were “trying to feed [Hill] the ball” in an effort to get him to 2,000 yards.
With Hill leaving that goal behind in 2024, perhaps there will be more balls headed Waddle’s way.
“Yards is great, but at the end of the day, I wanna be able to win games,” Hill said. “I wanna be able to do something special here in Miami now. It’d be great if you have had back-to-back-to-back 1,700 yards. Obviously, we gotta do what’s best for the team.”
