Wideouts are EXPENSIVE, so finding three rookies who offer hope for production is big
The Miami Dolphins are getting closer to the regular season, and while plenty of questions remain, one development should have fans feeling better about the direction of the franchise: Miami may have rebuilt its receiver room without breaking the bank.
Chris Bell returned to practice without the red non-contact jersey, while Caleb Douglas continues to turn heads. Add Kevin Coleman Jr. and Malik Washington to the equation, and suddenly Miami has four young receivers with an opportunity to become significant pieces of the offense.
We don’t know yet how good any of them will be. That’s what the regular season is for.
But from a team-building standpoint, the opportunity is enormous.
Wideouts on the Cheap is Nitro for a Team Build
Wide receiver has become one of the NFL’s most expensive positions. The Dolphins know that better than most after investing enormous resources into the position during the previous regime. Miami spent two first-round picks on Jaylen Waddle and essentially an entire draft’s worth of capital acquiring Tyreek Hill.
Now the Dolphins potentially have four receivers acquired with two third-round picks and two fifth-round picks. Collectively, they’re costing Miami less than $4 million this season.
That’s where this gets exciting.
You don’t need all four to become stars. If two develop into legitimate starting-caliber receivers and the others provide useful depth, Miami has created tremendous surplus value at an expensive position.
Consider what established receivers cost. Ja’Marr Chase is at $40 million annually, while numerous receivers are around or above $30 million. Even further down the salary rankings, players such as Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley and Jakobi Meyers are commanding salaries approaching or exceeding $20 million.
Every dollar Miami doesn’t have to spend there can eventually be invested somewhere else: quarterback, offensive line, defensive tackle, edge rusher or cornerback.
Building Sustained Success is About How the Money is Spent
There’s another benefit. If Bell and Douglas develop, Miami doesn’t have to enter next year’s draft desperate for a receiver. That allows the Dolphins to take the best player available instead of reaching to fill another hole.
you can bet with the best pay per head that none of this guarantees Miami has found four NFL receivers. Injuries happen. Young players fail to develop. Preseason optimism can disappear quickly.
But Bell losing the red jersey, Douglas turning heads and Coleman flashing give Miami something it hasn’t had enough of recently: inexpensive young talent with upside.
Maybe the Dolphins haven’t solved their receiver problem yet.
But they may have restocked the shelves—and done it on the cheap.
Go Phins!!!