Number 17 for the Miami Dolphins now belongs to Jaylen Waddle

The Miami Dolphins have issued Jaylen Waddle his uniform number and not surprisingly, he will be wearing his college number,17.

Waddle is Miami’s first, first-round draft pick this year was taken at number 6 overall. He has all-world speed and the Dolphins believe that he is the weapon that Tua Tagovailoa needs for this offense. A quick receiver with elite feet and speed and more than capable hands.

Dolphins fans have been waiting for the jersey numbers to be released and now they have been. With Waddle now getting 17, we can look back at the number and see who else has worn it and who Waddle has to outperform to become the best to wear the number.

The last time the number was worn was in 2019 when fellow receiver Allen Hurns wore the number for a season. Previously, Ryan Tannehill wore 17 after being drafted number 8 overall in the 2012 draft. Tannehill, of course, was traded to the Titans prior to the 2019 season.

Waddle won’t have much competition to win the “Best who wore the number” pseudo-competition. It has been worn by Ron Jaworski, Steven DeBert, John Kidd, Cleo Lemon, and few others throughout Dolphins history but no one has really stood out aside from Tannehill and that too is an easy debate for Waddle to potentially win.

Waddle has a shot at becoming an elite Dolphins wide-out. He can spread the field both from the slot and the outside and his versatility is such that the Dolphins can move him around in motion to create match-up problems for opposing defenses.

It’s not surprising that Miami gave Waddle 17 but now it’s up to him to make it his own.