It’s not terribly uncommon to get enamored with a shiny new object, especially in today’s NFL. In preseason camps across the league, fans will inevitably have their eyes glued to the newest, latest thing in their team’s colors. Only the regular season tends to unblur things.

Miami Dolphins fans are no different. Last year, it was Odell Beckham Jr. while this year another receiver is one of those drawing attention in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Quietly working and lurking behind the scenes in both cases has been second-year Swiss army knife Malik Washington, which means there could be a solid training camp battle for depth chart slots behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

A CLOSER LOOK AT WESTBROOK-IKHINE

Westbrook-Ikhine started last season as the backup to 2022 first-round draft pick Treylon Burks and early on, that was the only good news. But what looked like a bad season ended up being his best as a pro.

NWI wasn’t targeted a single time in the season’s first four weeks and didn’t appear to be much in the Tennessee Titans’ offensive plans moving forward. But when Burks went out for the season (knee), Westbrook-Ikhine moved into the starting spot and went on a little scoring spree.

Aside from a 117-yard performance against Minnesota which was aided by a 98-yard TD, his best game was an 8 catch, 61-yard game where he scored twice against Washington.

Overall, one could pick their good or their bad from NWI’s game – his 9 touchdowns and 15.5 yards per catch, or the possibility that a ball going his way wasn’t getting caught.

THE ANATOMY OF A TOUCHDOWN

The most notable part of Westbrook-Ikhine’s 2024 season was the ridiculously high touchdown percentage (nine of 32 receptions). In the process of watching his scores, however, something subtle started to stand out.

Of his nine scores, only three came in a play that was on time (i.e. planned within the offensive play scheme) and without some form of poor defending.

NWI’s other six TDs were as follows: 10/13 vs. IND – blown coverage; 10/20 vs. BUF – Rudolph scrambles for extra time; 11/3 vs. NE – zero pass rush/ton of time, coverage gives; 11/17 98-yd TD vs. MIN – lone defensive back took terrible angle and fell down when pass arrived; 11/24 vs. HOU – busted coverage; 12/1 vs. WAS – blown zone assignment by somebody, wide open; 12/15 vs. CIN – Rudolph scramble buys time for him to get open in back of end zone.

This might seem nitpicky, but in most situations the Miami offense runs on timing so it is something notable, yet still to be determined about his game here. It will be crucial for Westbrook-Ikhine to get this part down or a decent volume of snaps will not come. Quarterbacks throw to who they trust.

And unfortunately, recent reports by the Miami Herald suggest Westbrook-Ikhine is dealing with an injury issue that is slowing his learning curve.

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW…

Washington was 7th among rookies in Total Yards in 2024, averaging 58.0 ypg.

THE TOP 10: Bucky Irving, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, Brock Bowers, Tyrone Tracy Jr.,Washington, Jha’Quan Jackson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jayden Daniels

BAD IDEA COUNTING OUT MALIK

Malik Washington arrived in Miami with a chip on his shoulder and rightfully so due to his draft position compared to the tape he laid down in 2023. He’s too good to be selected where he was and he was hell-bent on proving it, which he did.

Think about the dynamic of his first day though – a 5-8 sixth round draft pick out of Virginia-by-way-of-Northwestern enters a locker room with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and OBJ, whose job he just so happens to be looking to take. He put his head down and worked.

It became clear pretty early that Washington was knee deep in every part of the playbook and that’s not only challenging in this offense, but also vitally important to a quarterback who plays on time like Tua Tagavailoa.

After a touchdown in practice earlier this summer from Tagavailoa to Washington, Miami’s QB talked about the second-year receiver.

“That felt great. I never had much of those with Malik, so that was really cool to see what (he) can do with the ball,” said Tagavailoa. “He’s also come a long way with the offense. I thought he did a great job last year for us and I think he’s doing a tremendous job for what we’re asking him to do. He plays multiple, multiple positions and knows what to do. Even in the run game with his blocking.”

In a recent interview, Washington was asked what feels different in year two.

“It’s just a different understanding of ‘How do I watch the film?,’ ‘How do I critique myself?,’ ‘How do I go about practice?,’ and stuff like that,” said Washington. “So it’s a familiarity, a little bit more confidence with the things that I’m doing each day and just building on what I (did last year).”

A COMPARISON OF WESTBROOK-IKHINE & WASHINGTON

These are two very different players in most ways, and frankly I don’t think they are much in competition with each other as much as where they will fit in the scheme.

There’s little doubt in my mind Washington is going to get more snaps than Westbrook-Ikhine and not because of special teams. His numbers last year were modest, but that was a product of Miami’s offense. It was inefficient and unable to do what it wants to do. In a season where McDaniel does what he wants, the field is spread and Washington is one of several sidepieces that’s taking advantage of space in the middle of the field.

Washington is also super trustworthy. He knows where to be and he has super reliable hands.

NWI looks from where we sit as a package piece. He will offer you characteristics that other players can’t from a size perspective. He is much bigger than Washington but doesn’t necessarily play as physical.

In short yardage and goal line situations, having someone of Westbrook-Ikhine’s size will be ideal. And that is how he’ll likely be used. It is imperative, however, that he learn the playbook and – as we’ll detail – come down with the ball.

RELIABILITY KEY TO QB CONFIDENCE

When looking at last season, a direct comparison it must be noted is slightly unfair to Westbrook-Ikhine in some regards based on Tennessee’s quarterback play. That said, Miami’s was spotty as well at times due to injuries.

But Westbrook-Ikhine was 20^th-worst in the league in catch rate (min. 25 targets) at 53.3% with 32 receptions on 60 targets (source: Statmuse). In fact, for his thus-far five season career, Westbrook-Ikhine’s catch rate is just 57.3% so it unfortunately can’t be viewed as a one-year plague.

It could be why the Titans were unwilling to crack the $3 million salary barrier for a guy they were familiar with who just scored them a bunch of touchdowns.

On the flip side, Washington led the Dolphins and was 23^rd-best in the NFL last year in catch rate at 72.2%, with 26 receptions on 36 targets.

BOTTOM LINER

In the end, the bottom line is that Miami will want to get production out of both Washington and Westbrook-Ikhine. Just expect it to come in different forms and in different offensive sets, not just that they will be competing as “WR3.”

That said, it is hard to see any regression taking place in a player who works and plays as hard as Washington. Guys who line up at skill positions can’t always be described as ‘dogs,’ but he is one.

And between the catch rate concerns and possible injury and playbook struggles, the concern is frankly more with NWI and his ability to get straight in time for the season