The Miami Dolphins announced their 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season Tuesday. The overall offensive firepower from last season regrouped for this year within new contracts. The combination of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle was one of those offensive pillars to return for long-term extensions through 2026.
However, Hill and Waddle both coming off a 1,000 receiving-yard season are dealing with minor injuries to open the season. A few other key wide receivers, Odell Beckham Jr. and River Cracraft, also will miss the first four games of 2024 due to their place on injured reserve. Overall, the wide receiver room appears to enter the new year on a limp, but potentially a Super Bowl champion could boost its skill.
A Super Bowl Champion Wideout Could Find Himself in Miami
Toney’s Resume in Free Agency
NFL free agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney was a first-round selection by the New York Giants in the 2021 NFL Draft. The former Florida Gator was a dynamic option on offense for UF in his collegiate career. Toney was either creating yards after the catch with ease off crossing routes or breaking tackles that only he could escape. Unfortunately for the receiver, he only played 12 games through a two-year tenure in New York.
The Giants traded Toney to the Kansas City Chief in October 2022. In return, New York received a compensatory 2023 third-round pick and a sixth-round pick for that same year. Toney had an immediate impact at Kansas City. The 25-year-old wide receiver would create plays out of nothing with his ability to switch his hips quickly out of compact situations — especially on special teams.
Despite joining midseason, Toney throughout seven games played toward a Super Bowl LVII ring. Similar to his career at that point, Toney only needed a few touches to make a difference in Kansas City’s 38-35 Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 13, 2023. The dual-threat wide receiver caught a touchdown, a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return, and produced a total of 82 overall yards in less than 10 snaps played.
Toney on the Chiefs finished the year with an average of 12.2 yards per catch, 171 receiving yards, and caught 14 of 17 targeted passes toward him. Since the conclusion of that season, it has all been downhill for him. Toney suffered a damaged meniscus in his knee in training camp in 2023.
Foreshadowing Events Toward Toney’s Cut
The injury sidelined the Super Bowl champion for the entire 2023 preseason, but he came back for week one. The season marked his worst season played yet in the NFL. Between dropped balls, offensive penalties, and accusations by Toney of his team keeping him away from the field, he ended last season with a career-low 169 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Despite Kansas City securing a second consecutive Super Bowl championship, the former Super Bowl hero found no playing time throughout last year’s postseason. In training camp this season, Toney was on the bubble of the roster. The wide receiver moved around to try special teams, and even running back drills to make an argument for himself. Unfortunately for him, Kansas City waived Toney Tuesday.
Miami’s Hypothetical Fit for Toney
With Toney now on the market as a free agent, the Dolphins are a team that could benefit from the magician at wide receiver. The three-year veteran’s chances to hop into Miami head coach Mike McDaniel’s offenses are in his favor. Toney is categorized as a yards-after-catch receiver who could make defensive backs pay when they attempt for a tackle in open space.
Between the Hill and Waddle connection already established, Toney can slide into a slot receiver role while Miami waits for Beckham and Cracraft to be ready for week four. The Dolphins current wide receiver room to start the season includes Hill, Waddle, Braxton Berrios, and rookie Malik Washington.
Toney’s winning experience can immediately put him ahead of Washington on the depth chart and aid Berrios as a punt returner in special teams. This can also be said as well against Miami’s most recent pickup off waivers, former Green Bay wide receiver Grant DuBose. The former seventh-round pick hasn’t played snap in the regular season.
Of course, Toney’s availability will be questioned once Beckham and Cracraft return to the team. However, it’ll be hard to imagine if McDaniel won’t be able to use him at all in the offense. The Dolphins have shown to use almost every offensive player in a unique passing scheme in preseason play. This included tight end Jonnu Smith, who was used as a receiver and runner off of pitches throughout camp.
Concerns for Toney
Miami’s main concerns, if they decided toward a Toney addition, would be if he continues to suffer injuries and isn’t able to get out of his current funk. The wideout last season suffered multiple injuries, which included his back, ankle, and of course knee. With an already unhealthy position group, his injury risk might be an issue for the Dolphins’ current wide receiver room. More than half of the room is either with questionable minor, or season-defining injuries.
About Toney leading off his worst season in the league, that could affect the offense negatively both on and off the field. For Miami to continue its success from last year, the chemistry needs to be at an all-time high with Toney. This means the former first-round pick needs to keep his focus and look ahead toward another shot at a Super Bowl ring.
The Dolphins will continue to determine their roster toward their week one matchup of the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8. In the meantime, Toney will be available to be picked up, ready to go for any team that wants him. The two-time Super Bowl champion awaits his calling.
Main Photo: [Jay Biggerstaff] – USA Today Sports
