Jaylen Wright’s path to a bigger role in Miami may not have looked especially promising after his first two NFL seasons, but Jeff Hafley’s comments made one thing hard to miss: the Dolphins still see real juice there.
That matters because the 2026 Miami offense is going to be judged by what the ground game can do. De’Von Achane is the engine, one of the league’s most explosive runners, and Malik Willis should add another layer as a dual-threat quarterback. But Miami also needs someone who can absorb some of the workload behind Achane, and Wright is the name that keeps coming back.
The production hasn’t popped yet. Through two seasons, Wright has 138 carries for 537 yards, a 3.9 average, and two touchdowns, along with eight catches for 52 yards. That’s a far cry from what he did at Tennessee, where he ran for 1,688 yards and 14 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry from 2022-23.
That college tape still matters. You don’t put up those numbers against SEC competition by accident, and Wright’s game still carries the kind of burst that can change a drive in one snap. Hafley made that clear Thursday, and his praise was direct, via the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad:
"Fast. Explosive.
When he hits it and gets vertical he can really go. I think he's a good scheme fit.
I love the way he practices. I love the way he finishes...
He's compact, he's strong, he's a hard guy to tackle, and I'm excited to see him in live settings. That’ll be fun."
The bigger picture for Wright is that Miami’s new staff may be better suited to unlock him than what he has dealt with so far. Mike McDaniel built his reputation as a running-game specialist, and while he helped De’Von Achane thrive, Wright never fully caught up to the demands of the system.
That isn’t just about talent. Achane is a rare player who picked up McDaniel’s scheme quickly and ran with it.
Wright came from Tennessee, where the offense was still rooted in a more simplified, gimmicky setup. Ex-Volunteers receiver and Carolina Panthers rookie Chris Brazzell II described that evolution this way, via A to Z Sports’ Zach Ragan:
"Everybody knows Tennessee as the run-n-gun... Which, they’re right - I’m not gonna sit here and lie.
So in 2024, that was a lot of run-n-gun. But this year, if you really watch my film, I’m running damn near every route in the playbook.
Every route I’ve ran here, I ran at Tennessee. There’s not a route I’ve ran here that I have not [already] ran.
So Tennessee is definitely evolving the playbook. They’re getting more pro-style."
The timing of that shift doesn’t line up neatly with Wright’s time in Knoxville, and that’s part of why his transition to the NFL has been slower than Miami hoped. Still, there’s reason for optimism now. Bobby Slowik comes from the same Shanahan coaching tree as McDaniel, and his system should feel familiar without being quite as demanding.
That gives Wright a cleaner runway. He already knows the basic outside-zone foundation, and he’s working with a new staff that appears willing to lean into what he does best.
It also helps that the competition behind Achane doesn’t exactly scream certainty. Ollie Gordon II posted 2.8 yards per carry in 2025 and profiles more as a short-yardage option than a true explosive threat. Beyond him, the depth chart includes names like second-year undrafted free agent Donovan Edwards.
So while Wright hasn’t broken out yet, the door is still open. And after Hafley’s comments, it’s clear Miami hasn’t closed it.
In Other News...
Willie Gay Jr. May Force Dolphins Into A Tough Decision
Willie Gay Jr. has spent training camp and the preseason making a case that he belongs in the Dolphins linebacker mix, even though the room already looks crowded. Miami has Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis and Tyrel Dodson in the group, and that depth has made every snap matter for a player trying to carve out a role after a limited defensive workload last season.
Gay has helped his cause with strong practices and a preseason interception returned for a touchdown, the kind of play that reminds a staff why it liked him in the first place. But the Dolphins have also invested in younger pieces, and with the linebacker room looking deeper than most, they may have to decide whether keeping Gay is the best use of a roster spot or whether his value is higher somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookies Are Already Putting Veteran Roles In Real Danger
Miamis 2026 rookie class is already forcing some hard conversations in the building, even before the pads come on for real. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan brought in 13 newcomers, but the attention is centered on a handful who could matter right away, especially on defense where a young linebacker and a versatile coverage piece are both being viewed as potential answers to real roster needs.
Jacob Rodriguez is the most intriguing name in that mix, with his background and draft status giving him a chance to climb fast if he handles the transition cleanly. Kyle Louis adds another layer because of the different ways he can be deployed in coverage, and that kind of flexibility tends to matter when a staff is sorting out roles. The bigger question now is how quickly those rookie evaluations turn into actual decisions, because the veterans around them are not exactly standing on solid ground. [Read more 🡒]
De'Von Achane Just Sent A Bold Message About Miami's New Identity
De'Von Achane is back on the practice field after dealing with offseason shoulder issues, and the timing matters for a Dolphins offense trying to reshape itself. Miami has spent the offseason talking about a more physical approach, one built around the run game and the strength up front, which is a notable shift for a team that has leaned so heavily on speed and space in recent years.
Achane has been one of the clearest believers in where this is headed, pointing to Bobby Slowiks arrival and the expected increase in rushing attempts as reasons for his confidence. For Miami, the bigger question is whether this new identity can hold up over a full season, and whether the backfield can turn that optimism into something defenses have to account for every week. [Read more 🡒]