Malik Washington is embracing competition after being drafted by the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins added more game-breaking speed to its roster by selecting Virginia’s Malik Washington in the sixth round after he led college football with 110 receptions and broke 35 tackles last season.

Tyreek Hill has 119 receptions in each of the last two seasons, and Jaylen Waddle became one of the league’s highest-paid receivers by signing a three-year contract extension. Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is in the mix, too.

“Just be a sponge,” Washington said of being around those guys. “I got three guys ahead of me that are – they know what they are doing, they’ve done it before, and they’ve had a lot of success at doing it.”

Miami drafted Tahj Washington in the seventh round while re-signing Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft in the offseason. Erik Ezukanma was cleared from last season’s neck injury. Anthony Schwartz, Je’Quan Burton, Braylon Sanders, and Mathew Sexton are also under contract.

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

“Every single day is a competition; that’s what we kind of preached at Northwestern and Virginia,” Washington added. “Just competing against the guy next to you, making that guy better; iron sharpens iron. So, just bringing that to the NFL as well.”

Washington played four seasons and caught 120 total passes at Northwestern before erupting with 110 receptions for 1,426 yards as a graduate student with the Cavaliers.

“I think there is a lot to improve, and there’s a lot I’m comfortable with,” Washington said of his route tree. It’s just getting a feel for the game, making sure I’m on time with the quarterback and stuff, and making sure I know where I’m supposed to be and when I’m supposed to be there.”

Washington knows a thing or two about the importance of timing and pace. He exceeded 100 yards ten times last season despite Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett splitting time at quarterback for Virginia.

The 5’ 8½, 191-pound receiver appeared in 12 games in each of the last three seasons but kicked down the doors by averaging nine receptions per game and nine touchdowns for the Cavaliers.

“I think that’s staying in the room with your quarterback, staying comfortable, and having a consistent relationship with the OC, the quarterbacks, and stuff like that,” Washington said. “Just knowing where they want you to be and what they want because that’s how you make plays.”

Washington, a 2023 first-team All-ACC receiver, stole the spotlight at Virginia but understands that there’s work needed to succeed in Miami’s offense and gain the trust of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“Tua is one of the most accurate passers in the NFL. He does his job,” Washington said. “The 10 guys around him doing their jobs, so I’ve got to be one of those 10 guys that just come in, make sure I’m on time, make sure I am where I’m supposed to be, and make him right.”

Miami completed its organized team activities last week, and players will report back for the mandatory minicamp on June 4-6. Dolphins' pre-season training camp will begin July 30.

“I think the biggest two things I’d have to do is be consistent and stack days, stack meetings, stack practices,” Washington said. “Stack everything I can. So, just every single day, give it everything I’ve got. Being myself and hopefully, that will be good enough to lead me down the road to be on the 53.”