Miami Dolphins Hosting Wes Welker

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald free agent wide receiver Wes Welker is visiting the Dolphins. Yes, that Wes Welker.  We all know the history with Welker quite well but is a reunion really what the Dolphins need?

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It feels more like a nostalgia look than a real option at this point. After all the Dolphins do have Jarvis Landry in the slot right now. Will Welker assume the other slot role and take a back seat to playing only in four wide sets? Maybe. Since the start of free agency Welker has drummed up very little interest.

Reality shows that Welker is not the player he was in New England anymore where he went from a no-name wide-out to a household name. He isn’t the receiver he was in his first season with Denver either. Regardless at the right price, Welker can still give a team some advantages.

Welker is a possession receiver. He isn’t going to do much in the red-zone and he is past the time where the slant for long gains is all but over but the Dolphins won’t be looking at him for that. They are looking at a veteran that can come in and knows how to run routes. Despite his history with concussions, Welker is still a very good route runner and uses his body well to shake off defenders. Welker is one of the best receivers in creating space within his routes. Despite his lack of speed.

On Tuesday the team hosted former Packer and Viking receiver Greg Jennings. He left without a contract but not a closed door. Welker will likely see the same. The Dolphins are starving for receivers after the trade of Mike Wallace and release of Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson.

Despite trading a 3rd round pick for Kenny Stills Miami still has a vacancy on the outside. Matt Hazel wasn’t a factor in his rookie season and Rishard Matthews has shown promise at times but has been inconsistent.

It’s very likely that signing a receiver now will not change the Dolphins draft plans and it is also entirely possible that Miami could be conducting these visits now in case the draft doesn’t fall the way they want. Allowing them to immediately sign the free agent veteran they have already visited with.

One thing is for certain. A return of Wes Welker will make some fans happy and some not so happy. Even if it’s only for one year at the end of his career, Welker has reached the end of his glory days.

Since leaving Miami, Welker has been part of Super Bowl teams and teams that have played in the AFC championship game. In other words, Welker missed the playoffs only one time since leaving the Dolphins. He learned what it takes to win. That is something Miami needs to be taught.