10 wide receivers the Dolphins could pursue this offseason

Mike Williams has struggled since he was released by the Los Angeles Chargers before the 2024 season. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the New York Jets, but after recording 12 receptions for 166 yards in nine games, the Jets moved on.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for him ahead of the deadline, and he registered nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in the remainder of the season.

Williams had a down year to say the least, but if he continues to work back from his injury troubles, there’s a chance Miami could get a steal by signing him to a cheaper one-year contract.

Like Williams, Diontae Johnson had his own struggles and bounced around from team to team over the course of the last season.

Johnson spent five seasons with the Steelers before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. After some early struggles followed by a string of good performances with Andy Dalton at quarterback, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens at the deadline.

That experiment failed quickly, as he was waived by the Ravens not even two months later. He then spent less than a month with the Houston Texans before making his way back to Baltimore to end the season.

It’s clear he’s a risky signing, but if he plays like he did with the Steelers, he could be exactly what Miami needs.

After a three-year stint with the Ravens and two years with the Arizona Cardinals, Marquise Brown signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But he didn’t get the chance to prove himself on his short-term deal after undergoing surgery following a Week 1 injury. He played in only five games, including the postseason, with Kansas City.

If he’s still viewed as a top free agent this offseason, he could be out of Miami’s price range. But if teams aren’t sure what they will get, he could be another speedy weapon for the Miami offense.

His addition could be redundant if Hill and Waddle are both on the team in 2025, but he could be especially valuable if Hill’s trade rumors ramp up.

If the Dolphins want to bring former Chargers and Chicago Bears receiver Keenan Allen to Miami, they will need to hope his age (he turns 33 in April) and lack of production last year scares other teams away from dishing out a big contract.

Allen developed into one of the league’s most underrated receivers during his time with Los Angeles. But after he was traded to the Bears last year, he had one of the least productive seasons of his career.

After catching 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns, Allen is up for a new contract. It seems likely he goes back to Chicago or Los Angeles, but Miami could use his talents, even in the late stages of his career.

Berrios is a known commodity. While he doesn’t help much when Hill or Waddle miss time, and he isn’t a sure-fire No. 3 receiver for the team, Miami could still use him as a depth piece.

The Dolphins could bring Berrios back to Miami on a short-term deal while they figure out if Tahj and/or Malik Washington will stick as contributors.

If Hill moves to another team, Berrios wouldn’t be the answer. But he could still make sense for Miami if there aren’t major changes to the receiver group. The Dolphins would just need to hope they don’t suffer many injuries to the positional group.

If Miami were to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster, it would be another Beckham-level signing.

Smith-Schuster is past his prime, but showed in 2024 that he still has the ability to contribute as a supporting piece to a winning team. The former Chiefs receiver had only 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns last season.

While he is a few years removed from impressive numbers, Smith-Schuster would be a strong option to backup Hill and Waddle.

If free agency doesn’t have options Miami likes, they could turn to the draft to improve their receiving corps. And if Hill is traded to another team, the Dolphins could use the No. 13 pick in the 2025 NFL draft to add a pass catcher.

Perhaps the most realistic option at their pick is former Missouri receiver Luther Burden III. Burden was a top receiver in the country for the past two years. In 2023 and 2024, he combined for 147 catches, 1,888 yards, and 15 touchdowns.

If not for a slightly down year in 2024, he could very well be the top pass-catching prospect in the class. Instead, Miami could have a shot at drafting a future star receiver without having to move in the draft.

Former Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka would be a slight reach in the first round if Miami stays put, but he could still be a great addition to the team.

If the Dolphins move Hill or expect to move on from him in the near future, adding a receiver like Egbuka could be a worthwhile investment. Egbuka has been a mainstay in the Buckeyes’ offense over the past three years.

He could play alongside Hill and Waddle or be a piece to build around for the future. Egbuka mostly operates out of the slot, but he’s as reliable as it gets, and Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could use that safety valve.

If Miami addresses a bigger need in the first round, former Hurricanes receiver Xavier Restrepo could be a steal on Day 2.

He broke out in 2023 and was just as dangerous this season. Over the past two years, he totaled 154 catches for 2,219 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The slot machine is a great separator with reliable hands. He could play immediately for Miami, especially if Hill is jettisoned.

If Miami wanted to add to its receiving corps late in Day 2 or early on Day 3, Bond would be a great option.

The former Alabama receiver had high expectations after transferring to Texas last year. But the speedster didn’t quite meet those lofty heights in his only season with the Longhorns. Now, he’s likely to fall to a later round in the draft, and Miami could be the team to take advantage of his slide.

He’s going to fly at the NFL combine, and it’s no secret Miami loves speed. He would be redundant with Hill and Waddle, but if the Dolphins are sold on the fact that speed kills, he would make the offense even faster.