The Remaining Free Agent Options At Wide Receiver for the Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins have plenty of options at receiver if Odell Beckham decides to sign elsewhere

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs the ball in overtime against the Minnesota / Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

The late-season offensive struggles last year should have taught the Miami Dolphins that it should be a priority to upgrade the wide receiver unit.

When Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both were slowed by high ankle sprains in the season’s final month, Miami’s big-play offense limped to the finish line and came up empty in Miami’s playoff loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Even though Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft have been re-signed, each landing a one-year deal for close to the NFL minimum, the Dolphins seemingly have made it a priority to upgrade the receiver unit.

That’s why Miami hosted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last month on a free agent visit and have continued negotiating with him and his camp. Sources say the Dolphins have also held exploratory talks with free agents who could potentially provide a missing ingredient to the wide receiver unit.

As talented as Beckham is, the nine-year veteran, who has caught 566 passes and turned them into 7,932 and 60 touchdowns throughout his nine seasons, isn’t the only veteran receiver who could upgrade Miami’s three-receiver sets if added.

While Beckham makes up his mind on whether Miami will be his next football home, the Dolphins should be exploring these options in an effort to address one of the roster's major needs heading into this month’s NFL draft.

FORMER STARTERS

Tyler Boyd - According to The Atlhetic, the Dolphins are one of four teams that shown preliminary interest in the former Bengals starter, who caught 67 passes for 667 yards and scored two touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-2 Boyd is coming off eight years with the Bengals where he had at least 600 yards in all but one season. He’s crossed over 1,000 yards twice (2018, 2019), all while playing at least 70% of snaps in each of the Bengals’ last six seasons. He's been a glorfied slot receiver in Cincinnati, but has the potential to do more.

D.J. Chark - Chark, who contributed 35 receptions for 525 yards and scored five touchdowns, has the desired combination of size (6-3, 200 pounds) and speed (4.34 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine). His acceleration is smooth and sudden, and he can run away from people without even trying. His problem is he’s spent most of his career playing with lackluster quarterbacks. But the 27-year-old has started 51 NFL games and scored 23 touchdowns in his six seasons. The biggest concern is how quickly he learns.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling - This 60-game starter had 63 receptions for 1,002 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons for the Chiefs, helping Kansas City win back-to-back Super Bowls. Most notably, he had a huge 116-yard, one-TD AFC Championship Game in the 2022 season and hauled in a 16-yard TD in Super Bowl LVIII for the Chiefs' only touchdown in regulation. However, he's not known to be a red zone weapon (16 career touchdowns).

THE AGED OPTIONS

Michael Thomas - At one point Thomas was viewed as one of the NFL’s best receivers, but that was before a series of injuries slowed down the 6-foot-3, 212-pound possession receiver, and before Drew Brees retired. Thomas, who caught 39 passes for 448 yards and scored one touchdown in the 10 games he played last season, leaves New Orleans having totaled 565 catches for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns. This 30-year-old holds the Saints' rookie record for receiving yards (1,137) and the single-season franchise record for both catches and receiving yards. 

Jarvis Landry - There was a point in time when Landry, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was viewed as one of the better slot receivers in the NFL. His grit and toughness made him one of the NFL’s better seam threat weapons, but injuries tarnished his 2022 season, and his diva persona has seemingly kept him out of the league since. But if Landry humbles himself and accepts a minimum-based contract, the 30-year-old might be in position to resurrect his career, and the Dolphins would benefit from his gritty style of play.

THE ROLE PLAYERS

Hunter Renfrow - Back in 2021, when Renfrow caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and scored nine touchdowns, he was considered one of the better slot receivers in the NFL. But quarterback instability and a de-emphasis of the slot role in Las Vegas, limited him to fewer than 400 offensive snaps the past two seasons. Last year the 28-year-old contributed 255 yards on 25 receptions. He has experience as a punt returner, but Miami re-signing Braxton Berrios would make him a redundant addition. 

Michael Gallup - At this point, Gallup, who caught 34 passes for 418 and scored two touchdowns last season for the Cowboys, can’t get much separation from defensive backs and has shown to have inconsistent hands. He’s good on jump balls and go routes, but can only play on the boundary. But this six-year veteran is a proven possession receiver who has scored 21 touchdowns in his 86 regular season games.