What’s next for Malik Washington?

Miami might’ve hit a home run with a 2024 sixth-round pick.

It’s rare for a late-round pick to make an impact as a rookie, especially when competing with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr. That said, sixth-round receiver Malik Washington never listened to the odds.

Washington, 24, led college football with 110 receptions in his final year at Virginia and knew he would have to fight for playing time with the Dolphins.

“In my mind, everybody here is a great player—the best of the best,” Washington said back in June. “So I just have to be better than the best of the best by doing my job and doing my best.”

Washington’s first opportunities came returning kicks after Braxton Berrios suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 against the Colts. He returned 18 punts for 134 yards while averaging nearly 31 yards on kickoffs, the second-best return average in franchise history behind Duriel Harris, who averaged 32.9 yards per return in 1976. Two of his kickoff returns went for at least 40 yards, including a 67-yard return against the New York Jets in Week 18.

Washington continued to find ways onto the field, scoring his first touchdown on an 18-yard rush against the Los Angeles Rams in early November. With the release of Beckham in early December and lingering injuries to both Hill and Waddle, Washington became a reliable option down the stretch.

Not only did he average five targets per game over Miami’s final four contests, but he caught 16 of his 20 targets to close the season. Mike McDaniel’s system isn’t for every receiver, considering the trust and timing involved, but Washington proved his worth by the season’s end.

Washington’s 26 receptions for 223 yards don’t jump off the page, but with tight end Jonnu Smith breaking franchise records and running back De’Von Achane’s targets ballooning from 37 as a rookie to 87 in 2024, he wasn’t expected to be a volume receiver. Washington set a career-best with 52 receiving yards against the Houston Texans, but also finished the season with the NFL’s best Route Win Rate, as tracked by Player Profiler.

The Dolphins are evolving under coach Mike McDaniel. Once known for de-emphasizing tight ends, his system helped send Smith to the Pro Bowl. On top of that, there’s a chance Hill’s played his last snap in Miami. While it’s virtually impossible to replace Hill’s big-play potential, the next evolution of McDaniel’s system may focus more on methodically spreading the ball to a reliable group of receivers rather than relying on home run plays.