Jacksonville Jaguars News & Rumors

Mike McDaniel has built his Dolphins offense around speed. His first move after arriving in Miami was bringing Tyreek Hill into the fold, and he’s since prioritized speed in his veterans (Raheem Mostert, Braxton Berrios) and rookies (De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright), all of whom registered sub-4.4 40-yard times before being drafted.

McDaniel nearly added another speedster to his offense this past offseason: LSU wide receiver prospect Brian Thomas Jr. The LSU product was available to the Dolphins at the No. 21 overall pick, and according to McDaniel, the Dolphins did their due diligence on Thomas in the pre-draft process.

McDaniel described Thomas as a “super talented player that has a unique combination of being able to be a down-the-field third-level receiver that can track and make plays down the field, while also having a route-running skill set to do your underneath and intermediate routes.” The Malik Nabers sidekick led Division I-FBS with 17 touchdown receptions, breaking through en route to first-round status.

Thomas’ 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the Combine indeed would have fit into the Dolphins’ recent skill-position blueprint, as Hill and Jaylen Waddle represent the NFL’s fastest active receiving duo. But the Dolphins opted to draft Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson at No. 21 overall instead. Two picks later, the Jaguars selected Thomas, giving Trevor Lawrence a new weapon to replace the departed Calvin Ridley.

“He’s a very talented individual that we will be well aware of when he’s out there on the field,” McDaniel said of Thomas. “It won’t be a surprise, because we did a lot of work on him coming out.”

Miami’s receiver interest is certainly interesting, given what the team already had invested at the position. The Dolphins were eyeing a big-ticket Waddle extension, which came to fruition after the draft, and had already seen Hill begin to angle for a contract adjustment. Hill has since agreed to an updated deal. The Dolphins did lose Cedrick Wilson from their receiving corps this offseason, though the team did not see the former $8MM-per-year player pan out.

Shortly after passing on Thomas, the Dolphins resumed their Odell Beckham Jr. pursuit. Miami had made Beckham an offer before the draft but did not agree to terms with the former Pro Bowler until May 3. As the Jaguars will throw a revamped receiving corps at the Dolphins — one that features Thomas and ex-Bills deep threat Gabriel Davis — the Dolphins will not have Beckham. The would-be WR3 is on the shelf until at least Week 5 due to being transferred to the team’s reserve/PUP list last week.

The Robinson pick addressed a much greater need, with the Dolphins finishing last season with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips sustaining major injuries. While Phillips is back, Chubb remains on Miami’s PUP list. With offseason pickup Shaq Barrett retiring post-draft, the Dolphins will need Robinson to aid their pass rush effort early.