It’s Possible the Dolphins Could have Both Rookies of the Year in Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips

Yes, I know that anything is possible, not just because Kevin Garnett once said it but because Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips will be playing football this coming year for the Dolphins. This means it technically can happen where the Dolphins can house both the offensive and defensive rookies of the year. But where most would shrug this assertion off as mere poppycock, I actually think it’s a slight hair above just possible.

I’m not saying go right to Fan Duel, Barstool, Draft Kings, or whatever syndicate you choose to lay down your hard-earned cash and bet on this to happen. I’m just saying the odds of this happening isn’t banana land crazy. And if you find an actual individual bet where it says something like Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips to both win rookie of the year, it might not be the dumbest thing in the world to lay some coin on that wager.

Here’s what we’re looking at in terms of where each Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips are currently at odds wise to win their respected rookie of the year awards according to Fan Duel;

+1700 for the 6th overall pick isn’t bad at all. Obviously, we have no idea how Waddle will be used. But, you’d like to think that if the Dolphins traded up from #12 back into the top 10 of the draft, then they are looking to use Waddle a great deal. However, remember that we’re talking about the Miami Dolphins here. This is an outfit that, regardless of who the coaching staff is comprised of, always finds a way not to use a player’s best qualities that make that player special. The Dolphins have the unicorn of coaching situations which is they have two offensive coordinators instead of one. What will that entail? Nobody can say at the moment. You’d like to believe that both Godsey and Studesville can figure out how to use Jaylen Waddle’s obvious attributes.

The biggest thing going against Waddle is that only 11 wide receivers have ever won the offensive rookie of the year award in the 63 years of its existence. The last one was Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2014. It seems like this year is a great year to have the 12th receiver win that award.

What Waddle does have going for him because he’s awesome and can take any reception to the house. Personally, I think the Dolphins are going to want to get Tua real comfortable and to do that. I think they’re going to get the ball into Waddle’s hands as often as possible. I don’t think they’ll force it to him, but they will put him into positions in high percentage positions to cause real damage to opposing defenses. I mean, look at how silky smooth explosive he is. LOOK AT IT!!

Jaelan Phillips has much better odds of winning his rookie of the year award.

Phillips has the 4th best odds to win the defensive rookie of the year award. That’s so cool to see. I can’t remember the last time the Dolphins had a rookie thought of in that regard.

The Dolphins drafted Phillips to fill an obvious hole on their defense, and that was some sort of an edge rusher. I say some sort of an edge rusher because the prevailing wisdom was that Phillips would be playing defensive end, but Stone Cold Brian Flores does what he wants. It’s been reported that at rookie camp, Phillips has been working at OLB. I can’t say that I’m too surprised by this. I imagine Flores looks at Jaelan Phillips as an edge player and that it doesn’t matter if he’s lined up as a defensive end or as an outside linebacker. Like Flores has done before, he’ll probably consider Phillips, a football player who will be rushing from all over the place. It works for me.

I don’t have many reasons why that are against Phillips on why he’s not a prime candidate to win the DROY. The only thing you can really say is that his injury history bites him. Naturally, I hope that never occurs but who knows. I realize we can say that about any player.

I can’t tell you that Phillips will be a starting defensive end, edge rusher, or outside linebacker right from the get-go. His competition at those positions isn’t overwhelming, so you’d think he’d get a ton of playing time regardless.

Out of the last 10 years of edge rushers or guys who make their bacon from getting sacks, the most sacks by the eventual DROY was 11.5 by Von Miller in 2011. Last year’s winner, Chase Young, got himself 7.5 sacks. In 2019, Nick Bosa got 9, while his brother got 10.5 in 2016. So, if you’re trying to ballpark how many sacks Jaelan Phillips would probably need to win the award, I think he would have to get at least 9 sacks. I think that’s doable in this defense. Emmanuel Ogbah got 9 last year with Shaq Lawson opposite him. Phillips, who is thought of as a much better talent than Ogbah, has Ogbah opposite of him. I like to think that Phillips will have opportunities, decent opportunities to get to 9 sacks.

I mean, take a look at this video of Jaelan Phillips just straight up doing work on the sled. The way he fires through his hips, you might as well pencil him in for double-digit sacks right now.

I don’t know what the bet would look like if you were to bet for both Waddle and Phillips to win rookie of the year awards. In my novice gambling brain, I want to say it would be +2,600 by just adding them together, but I truly don’t know how it would be added and figured out. If any degenerates out there want to mention how it would be determined, please speak up in comments.

I know that it isn’t wild to think that it could happen. Is it likely? No. I think the league will do everything it can to have Trevor Lawerence win the award on offense. As for defense, flip a coin with any of the main choices to win it. I just know it’s cool that this conversation is even possible. Have a tremendous Tuesday.

By the Way- It goes without saying that if both Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips win rookies of the year, it would be the first time two guys named Jaelan/Jaylen won the award. Just saying, that’s another reason it is exciting.

Sorry, one More Thing- In an alternate reality, the Dolphins do, in fact, have both rookies of the year. It’s just that it’s Jevon Holland and Gerrid Doaks. I’d visit that reality.

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