Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle started his career off on a high note by setting an NFL rookie record for receptions and breaking the franchise rookie record for receiving yards.
Heading into his second season, Waddle is now joined by Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr. in the receivers’ room. While he may not be the top threat in the offense this year, having Hill on the field will take some of the attention off of the former Crimson Tide wideout.
After a successful first year, what personal goal does Waddle have for 2022?
“Man, I ain’t gonna lie, I think my average was like 9.5 or something like that a catch,” Waddle said on “I Am Athlete” this week. “I gotta show some [yards after the catch]. I gotta be YAC crazy out there. That’s definitely something I know I got and something I gotta show. I ain’t gonna talk too much about it. I just gotta go out there and show it.”
Waddle’s memory isn’t far off. He averaged 9.8 yards per attempt. In terms of YAC, Waddle finished the season with only 439 YAC, ranking 19th in the league. That’s not a bad thing for a rookie, but it could be better, and that’s something that could change this offense if he improves in that area.