.png) Waddle with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 | |||||||||
| No. 17 –Miami Dolphins | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1998-11-25)November 25, 1998 (age 26) Houston, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | Alabama (2018–2020) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2021: 1st round, 6th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2024 | |||||||||
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Jaylen Waddle (born November 25, 1998)[1] is an American professionalfootballwide receiver for theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide and was selected sixth overall by the Dolphins in the2021 NFL draft.
Waddle attendedEpiscopal High School inBellaire, Texas.[2] As a senior, he played in theU.S. Army All-American Game.[3] He committed to theUniversity of Alabama to playcollege football.[4][5][6] He made the selection onNational Signing Day of 2018 and chose the Crimson Tide overTexas,Texas A&M,Florida State,TCU, andOregon.[5]
On September 29, 2018, againstLouisiana, Waddle had three receptions for 138 yards and two receiving touchdowns to go with a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown.[7] In theSEC Championship againstGeorgia, he had four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown in the win.[8] As a true freshman at Alabama in 2018, Waddle was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after recording 45 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns.[9][10] As apunt returner, he also returned 16 punts for 233 yards and a touchdown.[10]
Waddle returned to the Crimson Tide for his sophomore season in 2019.[11] He recorded 33 receptions for 560 yards and scored six receiving touchdowns.[12] He also returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown againstLSU and a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown againstAuburn.[13][14] He was named first-team All-SEC as a return specialist and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.[15] He led the NCAA in punt return yards with 487.[16]
In his first four games of theCOVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Waddle recorded at least 120 receiving yards in each of the games. He had eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the win overMissouri on September 26.[17] In the following game, a win overTexas A&M, he had five receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown.[18] In the next game, a win overOle Miss, he had six receptions for 120 yards.[19] In the next game, against Georgia, he had six receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown in the win.[20] On October 24, Waddle broke his right ankle when he was tackled while returning the opening kickoff in a game againstTennessee.[21] Waddle returned for theNational Championship game againstOhio State.[22] On January 14, 2021, Waddle announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the2021 NFL draft.[23]
| Season | Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 2018 | 45 | 848 | 18.8 | 94 | 7 |
| 2019 | 33 | 560 | 17.0 | 58 | 6 |
| 2020 | 28 | 591 | 21.1 | 90 | 4 |
| Career | 106 | 1,999 | 18.9 | 94 | 17 |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 30+3⁄8 in (0.77 m) | 9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.37 s | ||||||||
| All values fromPro Day[24][25] | ||||||||||||
Waddle was drafted sixth overall in the2021 NFL draft by theMiami Dolphins, reuniting him with his college quarterbackTua Tagovailoa.[26][27] On May 14, 2021, Waddle signed with the Dolphins on a $27.1 million deal.[28]
In his first NFL game on September 12, 2021, Waddle faced off against former Alabama teammate quarterbackMac Jones and theNew England Patriots. Waddle caught 4 of his 6 targets for 61 receiving yards, and also caught his first NFL receiving touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the 17–16 win against the New England Patriots. His first big breakthrough came in Week 12 against theCarolina Panthers, finishing with 137 receiving yards as the Dolphins won 33–10.[29] Throughout the season, Waddle became known for his waddling celebrations after touchdowns, inspired by his last name.[30]
In his 16th game of the season, Waddle set the NFL rookie record for receptions in a season with 104, beatingAnquan Boldin's old record of 101.[31] His record was broken byPuka Nacua in 2023. Waddle finished his rookie season with 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and seven total touchdowns.[32] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[33]
In a Week 2 game against theBaltimore Ravens, Waddle had a career high of 11 receptions, 171 yards, and 2 touchdowns including the game winner to help the Dolphins comeback from a 35–14 4th quarter deficit, eventually winning the game 42–38.[34] In Week 8 against the Lions, he had eight receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the win.[35]
In a Week 16 game against theGreen Bay Packers, he had an 84-yard receiving touchdown, setting the record for longest play during anNFL Christmas game.[36][37]
Waddle finished the season with 75 receptions, 1,356 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns.[38] The latter two figures set career highs. He also finished the season with 18.1 yards per catch which led the league.[39]
In a Week 2 game against the Patriots, Waddle went down and was ruled out of the game. He was later reported to be in concussion protocol. Before a Week 3 game against theDenver Broncos, Waddle was ruled out with a concussion.[40] He had seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in Week 8.[41] he had eight receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against the Jets in Week 15.[42] He finished the season with 72 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games.[43]
On April 29, 2024, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Waddle's contract.[44] On May 30, Waddle and the Dolphins agreed to a three–year, $84.75 million contract extension.[45] In week 12, he had eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown in a 34–15 win over the Patriots.[46] In the 2024 season, he had 58 receptions for 744 yards and two touchdowns.[47]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 104 | 1,015 | 9.8 | 57 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | MIA | 17 | 17 | 75 | 1,356 | 18.1 | 84 | 8 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | MIA | 14 | 14 | 72 | 1,014 | 14.1 | 60 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | MIA | 14 | 14 | 54 | 700 | 13.0 | 63 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 49 | 49 | 260 | 3,535 | 13.6 | 84 | 18 | 10 | 48 | 4.8 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2022 | MIA | 1 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 14.7 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | MIA | 1 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 5 | 75 | 15.0 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |