MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins already have a scintillating 1-2 punch of speedy running backs.
They still selected another one with similar blazing traits in the NFL draft two weeks ago — and not only drafted him, traded into the fourth round using a third-rounder in 2025 to make sure he was theirs.
But will Jaylen Wright merely be a No. 3 option in the Dolphins backfield behind the tandem of veteran Raheem Mostert and 2023 rookie De’Von Achane and back them up when one gets hurt? Or will he solidify himself as a significant contributor regardless of injury status to those more experienced?
Wright, the rookie out of Tennessee, wants to make Miami’s running back unit a three-headed monster with him in it.
“Both of those guys, they are really good guys, great players,” Wright said Friday, the first day of Dolphins rookie minicamp. “I’m excited just to be able to share the rock with them.
“I’m excited to be that trio that will be out there making a lot of plays this summer, this fall and this season. I’m just ready to go, and I’m just ready to prove to everybody that I belong here.”
Wright surely does.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel loves speed at the skill positions. Wright has that, running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. That made him this draft’s second-fastest running back. For reference, Achane ran a 4.32 last year as the most fleet-footed in 2023. Wright is also thicker than Achane, 210 pounds compared to 188 for Achane when he came out of college.
But beyond the physical attributes, Wright is a scheme fit in McDaniel’s outside-zone run game that gets opposing defenses moving east and west in order to establish rushing lanes.
It was one of the reasons Wright previously expressed the Dolphins were the top team he wanted to go to in the draft.
“Just the way that they like to create space for the running backs, space for everybody,” Wright said. “They got the receivers to spread everybody out to make the defenses drop back in coverages and stuff like that. That just makes it better for the running backs. Just the system and everything we do, I feel like it’s perfect for me.
“They like to use running backs to their skill set. I feel like they will put me in positions where I’m getting open in space, whether if it’s in the backfield or in the slot catching the ball, receiving the ball. I feel like it’s good here running back-wise and can make a lot of big plays as a running back here.”
The running back corps is also one that’s selfless in Miami. Mostert, 32, already brought Achane along last offseason. That turned out okay as Mostert had his first 1,000-yard rushing season and broke team records in rushing (18) and total touchdowns (21) and Achane broke a Super Bowl-era record for yards per carry (7.8).
Mostert expressed Tuesday that he is looking forward to leading another rookie tailback.
“Just excited to have him here and try to coach him up,” Mostert said, “try to help him out within this offense and let’s see what we can do.”
Said Wright of knowing he can lean on Mostert: “It means a lot. Raheem is somebody I’ve studied watching film back in college. He’s a guy. I’ve been knowing him for years. Just from him saying that, it just means a lot. It puts a warm feeling on me that I’m welcomed. I’m just ready to meet those guys and work with them.”
A more spread-out workload could also benefit the three, with Mostert minimizing his wear-and-tear after 30, Achane maybe staying fresh after missing several games with a knee injury as a rookie and Wright avoiding any rookie wall in 2024.
Wright now becomes a fourth Dolphins player with their first name pronounced the same, albeit three different spellings: Jaylen Wright, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
“That’s a lot of Jaylens. I guess that gives us that connection. I’m ready to meet my other fellow Jaylens, so I’m just ready to go.”
Wright donned his No. 25 Dolphins jersey for the first time Friday in practice. It’s one that was held by cornerback Xavien Howard, now a free agent after his release from Miami, for the past eight seasons, four of which resulted in Pro Bowl appearances.
“He’s a big-name guy,” Wright said. “I’m just excited to wear the number that he repped for a long time and make a lot of big plays in it.”
After Mostert, Achane and Wright, the Dolphins also return Jeff Wilson Jr., Chris Brooks and Salvon Ahmed at running back — all viable roster options, with Wilson and Brooks adding a power component to their running style.
