The Miami Dolphins are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to their wide receiver room. They have the dynamic duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, of course, but there’s a ton of question marks in the room after the top two. The biggest concern in the room is simply health. Anthony Schwartz was just placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Erik Ezukanma has been in a walking boot and has missed more time than he’s been active for. River Cracraft is hurt. Odell Beckham Jr. has yet to practice since signing with the team. It’s a veritable mash unit.
Going beyond this season, the Dolphins have had problems in the wide receiver room for several years now. They, of course, have Hill and Waddle who command the lion’s share of the attention from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but the Dolphins have had a severe lack of a third option in the wide receiver corps for several years. Last season, both Hill and Waddle topped 1,000 yards. No other wide receiver had more than 300 yards for the team. Durham Smythe, the team’s top tight end target last season, was the only other pass catcher to top 300 yards, reeling in 366 on the season.
The Dolphins could solve one – or potentially both – of those problems on the free agent market after Tuesday’s cutdown deadline passes. Perhaps the best option for the Dolphins would be soon-to-be former Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick.
Patrick has had his own health struggles over the years. In 2021, Patrick tore his ACL in training camp and missed the entire season. Almost exactly one year later, in 2022, Patrick was again lost for the season before it even started, this time due to a torn Achilles tendon. The two injuries mean that Patrick hasn’t played a regular season game in the NFL in more than two seasons.
Add in the fact that Patrick is on the wrong side of 30, and it may seem strange to suggest signing him. But the Dolphins are at a point right now where they simply need some healthy bodies in the room, and right now Patrick is healthy. Patrick also showed during the preseason that there’s reason to believe he can regain his pre-injury form. Before the injuries, Patrick was an up-and-coming receiver for the Broncos, notching back-to-back seasons with 50+ receptions and 700+ yards, with 11 touchdowns.
That kind of production could take the already potent Dolphins offense to new heights. They’ve been looking for another option in the passing game to complement Hill and Waddle, and a healthy Patrick could be just what the doctor ordered.
If Miami really wants Patrick and they don’t want to wait for him to hit free agency, the Broncos have made it clear they’re willing to trade the oft-injured receiver. Given his age and injury history, it shouldn’t take more than a late Day 3 pick to make a deal happen. Either way, it’s an avenue the Dolphins should explore.