MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins doubled their pleasure at running back in 2023. But in 2024, it appears as though thrice will be nice.
Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane are listed as co-starters on the team’s latest depth chart, but Mike McDaniel might need to add a third line considering what rookie Jaylen Wright has shown this summer.
Jaylen Wright Will Have a Role for Miami Dolphins in 2024
Wright’s strong performance in practice carried over into his first preseason game. He led all players with 55 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
“I feel like I’m explosive,” Wright said postgame. “I’m not somebody that’s going to dance around in a hole. If I see a cut, I’m going to hit it with full speed. If I get in the open field, I mean, it’s over with.
“I don’t feel like nobody’s catching me. I mean, I could also lower my shoulder. I have power with me. Elusive. I feel like I got a mix of a lot of running styles.”
Wright’s style fits perfectly in McDaniel’s outside zone running scheme.
Expect him to see significant action as a rookie — even with the Dolphins returning a Pro Bowler in Mostert and the NFL’s yards-per-carry running back record holder (7.8) in Achane.
The Dolphins, per TruMedia, led the NFL in carries (240), rushing yards (1,213), touchdowns (12), and rushing first downs (62) out of 21 personnel last year. And that was without Wright.
With him now aboard, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if that’s their base package in 2024.
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“I think you have to let the players determine who gets the ball and how frequently and how much during the game, and that’s very important,” McDaniel said. “I think the cool thing when you have a position group that on the front end you know by NFL standards is very, very talented – one of the most, if not the most talented that you can remember or you’ve been on teams with – you don’t worry about how that is going to unfold.
“You let it unfold, and it’s always very obvious. You can tell by how people execute their blocks and their belief of the player carrying the ball and you have to be able to be open-minded to how it plays out. So I think the residuals of a deep room, you can see on each individual player.”
We get into all that, plus much more, in our Commanders Week episode of the PFN Miami Dolphins Podcast.