‘Throw it wherever.' How Nick Westbrook-Ikhine fits into the Miami Dolphins offense

Miami Herald

5 days ago

The Miami Dolphins passing attack will look slightly different.
Sure, the quartet of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane will still be there but two positions – wide receiver three and tight end – will be markedly different. That's because the Dolphins signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine then traded for Darren Waller in the offseason.
And while Waller's seems prime to slide into former Dolphin Jonnu Smith's role as a pass-catching tight end, Westbrook-Ikhine gives Miami a look that they haven't had since 2021: a big-bodied receiver, something that already has coach Mike McDaniel's brimming with excitement.
'Big body,' Westbrook-Ikhine, 28, of his 6-2 frame. . 'Use what God gave me there and then just being that guy to take advantage of the opportunities on the field that present themselves, whether it's mismatches and whatnot. You have a lot of weapons around me and finding open areas, being physical. I'm excited to see all the different ways that he plans on game planning, scheming stuff up because I know he's got some great ideas.'
Westbrook-Ikhine signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with Miami following the best season of his career in 2024. The veteran receiver set career highs in targets (60), yards receiving (497) and touchdowns (nine). His size is a welcome sight considering the Dolphins had the smallest receiver room in the NFL in 2024.
'I'm glad that we added some height,' Hill said in 2024 after the Dolphins signed 6-2 Grant DuBose. 'I told [receivers coach] Wes [Welker], I'm like, 'Hey bro, y'all keep on adding these short guys.''
Like any receiver in a new offense, especially one as complicated as the Dolphins, Westbrook-Ikhine has struggled with the timing. An undisclosed injury also didn't help.
'It's been an adjustment,' Westbrook-Ikhine said of the injury that has more so affected his 'confidence' due to him not 'feeling 100% and like myself.' Luckily, the break before training camp will give him time to heal and better understand the offense, which he deemed 'something I'm learning through.'
'I feel like there's been a few times when bad habits that I've had have showed up and I've been late,' he continued. 'But then there's been a few times when it has worked out.'
It took some time but Westbrook-Ikhine had his best moment during the first day that media was available to watch minicamp. His size and wide catch radius shined bright as the fifth-year receiver snagged several touchdowns during the red zone portion of practice.
'He's going to be extremely reliable,' Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. 'I think ultimately if you talk to the guys that knew him in Tennessee and our exposure so far has been consistent work ethic. I think that's ultimately where he puts himself in position to be successful is because he really is a student of the process, making sure he's on the little things so, therefore, on Sundays he can be reliable for the quarterback and really the rest of the offense.'
That gives some insight into what Westbrook-Ikhine's role could be with the 2025 Dolphins. Consider this: of his nine touchdown catches in 2024, six were in the red zone. The Dolphins, meanwhile, were a middling team in that area, scoring touchdowns on just 56.6% of their attempts, which ranked 16th in the league.
'I love the red zone,' Westbrook-Ikhine said. 'I'm a bigger target, which makes it a little bit easier too. You can kind of throw it wherever. I enjoy being in the end zone.'