The Best Receivers for the Miami Dolphins in 2024

The Miami Dolphins, under the leadership of third-year head coach Mike McDaniel, experienced the disappointment of missing the National Football League (NFL) playoffs for the first time in 2024, concluding the season with an 8-9 record. This marked their fewest victories since 2019, a year that ended with a grim 5-11 finish. The team particularly struggled on the offensive front, ranking 22nd and 18th in points and total yards, respectively, after having previously secured the second and first positions in those categories in 2023.

A significant factor contributing to the team's offensive difficulties was the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was sidelined for four games due to a concussion. Nevertheless, when he was on the field, he performed admirably, achieving a 6-5 record and leading all quarterbacks with an impressive 72.9 completion percentage.

However, it is noteworthy that no Dolphins player achieved the coveted 1,000-yard receiving milestone and several players fell short of expectations.

Here's a look at Miami's five leading receivers in 2024.

Tyreek Hill

One year after achieving the remarkable feat of becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era to record 1,000 receiving yards within the first eight games of the season, Tyreek Hill experienced a comparatively disappointing year in 2024. However, he still led the Dolphins with 959 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Hill had accumulated an impressive 1,710 receiving yards in his inaugural year with the team in 2022 and he topped all players with a staggering 1,799 yards in 2023. His peers recognized his talent by voting him as the best player in the league on the NFL Network's pre-season top-100 list.

Hill commenced the 2024 season with seven receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown during Miami's 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars; however, he surpassed the 100-yard mark in only two of his subsequent 16 games. He managed to catch a mere 52 percent of his targets, which represented his lowest success rate since his rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016. Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, pointed to a broken wrist sustained during a training camp scrimmage as one of the principal factors contributing to his lackluster season. Hill has one remaining season on his three-year, $90 million contract, but there is a possibility that he will play elsewhere.

In 2025, he distanced himself from the Dolphins' season finale against the New York Jets, indicating an interest in being traded during the offseason. “This is the first time I haven’t been in the playoffs. For me, I have to do what's best for me and my family, if that's here or wherever the case may be," Hill told reporters. "I'm (going to) open that door for myself. I'm opening the door. I'm out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I've got to do what's best for my career ... I'm too much of a competitor to be just out there.”

Jonnu Smith

Although Hill underperformed in 2024, Jonnu Smith experienced a remarkable season during his inaugural year in Miami. Signed to a two-year contract worth $8.4 million in the offseason, this 6-foot-3, 248-pound tight end had spent seven seasons in the NFL, yet he had never achieved more than 582 receiving yards in a single season. He concluded the 2024 campaign with unprecedented career totals: receptions (88), receiving yards (884) and a receiving success rate of 63.1 percent; furthermore, he matched his career-high of eight touchdowns. Smith established new single-season records for the Dolphins in terms of receptions and receiving yards specifically for a tight end, becoming Tagovailoa's preferred target during the latter half of the season. Initially, he managed only 140 receiving yards across the first five games and did not score his first touchdown until Week 7. However, Smith went on to secure six touchdowns in the last eight games, surpassing the 100-yard receiving threshold in matchups against the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers.

Jaylen Waddle

Similar to Hill, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle underperformed in 2024. The sixth overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his initial three seasons in Miami; however, he managed only 58 receptions for 744 yards during the last season, which consisted of 15 games. Furthermore, Waddle recorded his worst career statistics in touchdowns (two), first downs (38) and receiving success rate (54.2 percent). In May 2024, Waddle signed a contract extension with the Dolphins worth $84.75 million over three years.

De'Von Achane

Running back De'Von Achane had yet another impressive season in 2024, building off a rookie campaign in which he accumulated 997 scrimmage yards (800 rushing and 197 receiving). A third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Achane rushed for 907 yards and, caught 78 passes for 592 yards across 17 games this past season. He scored six touchdowns on the ground; however, he also added six through the air. Although his performance was commendable, there are always areas for improvement. This balance of rushing and receiving yards showcases his versatility, but it remains to be seen how he will develop in future seasons.

Malik Washington

Given that he had only four receptions in his initial six games, rookie Malik Washington managed to have what could be deemed a respectable season for the Dolphins. The sixth-round selection achieved 16 catches in the last four games of the year; thus, he concluded the season with 26 receptions for 223 yards. This performance ranked him 22nd among all rookies. However, some might argue that his early struggles hindered his overall impact. Although he improved significantly, there remains a question of consistency, because it is essential for any player to maintain a steady level of performance throughout the season.