Miami Dolphins training camp preview: Special teams could secure WR Tahj Washington’s 53-man roster spot

Positional flexibility is a dealmaker when filling out the 53-man roster. While opportunities may be scarce behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr., seventh-round rookie wide receiver Tahj Washington’s special teams experience creates a compelling case for an opening-day roster spot.

The Miami Dolphins struggled on special teams last season, allowing a league-worst average of 30.5 yards on kickoffs. Rick Gosselin, who’s covered the NFL for 50 years, ranked Miami as the league’s second-worst special teams unit in 2023.

The Dolphins signed a pair of special teams aces Cam Brown and Siran Neal to reshape the the unit. Brown, a former sixth-round pick of the New York Giants, stands at 6’ 5 and played at least 80 percent of New York’s special teams snaps in each of the last four seasons. Neal, 6’0, spent the previous five seasons hounding opposing teams as a gunner for the Buffalo Bills.

A pair of free-agent additions is a start but at 5’10, 174 pounds, Washington can also help push Miami’s special teams in the right direction.

“Washington’s measurables could work against him during the evaluation process, but his competitiveness and consistency should balance that out somewhat,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in a draft profile. “He’s fearless into the middle of the field and is a willing run blocker out of three-wide receiver sets. Washington is a talented return man and has some real dog in him on coverage teams. He should go on Day 3 and will fight for a roster spot as a WR5 with special teams value.”

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Washington started his college career with Memphis in 2019 and transferred to USC in 2021. He was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention with 785 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2022. He earned the honor again in 2023 with a team-high 59 receptions for 1,062 yards while dropping just one of 74 targets. He showcased reliability, willingness to block downfield, and explosiveness as a slot receiver.

Despite continued growth on offense, Washington remained adamant about playing a role on special teams.

“Special teams has always been a part of my game,” Washington said after being drafted by Miami. “Coaches have had to beg me over the years to take maybe one off and things like that. Gunner on punt, corner on punt return, kickoff returner, off returner, a lot of history in special teams. I love to compete.

“Anytime I get the opportunity to be on the field, I want to be out there.”

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Washington earned 99 receiving yards and two touchdowns while roughly 20 other players sat out of USC’s 42-28 Holiday Bowl win over Louisville on Dec. 27. He may not see many snaps as a seventh-round rookie on a team loaded with receiver talent. But he’ll sure make the most of each one.

“He could have had a great case for not playing [in the bowl] game but anybody that knows Tahj knew there was a zero percent chance that he was going to sit out this game,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said following the win. “That’s why he’s gonna be a great pro.”