In recent years, Miami’s offense was about pure speed and quickness in space. Like the chicken that Mickey had Rocky Balboa chasing all over the yard in the first two Rocky movies. With the lesser-of-stature but lightning-fast duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, that was Miami’s identity under Mike McDaniel. But, fortunately for the franchise, that era and philosophy is no more, with both players out of town.

We haven’t seen exactly what new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, head coach Jeff Hafley, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik have planned yet, but it’s a good bet they’ll look to get more size and balance inside their wide receiver room this offseason.

They could do it as early as the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. In fact, former NFL player turned ESPN writer Matt Bowen sees an “ideal fit” for the Dolphins who could be available at the end of the first round, where the Dolphins pick at No. 30. And that would be Washington WR Denzel Boston.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen sees Washington WR Denzel Boston as an ‘ideal fit’ at pick No. 30

“The Dolphins could opt for a wide receiver at No. 10, but Boston should be on the board for them with their second pick of the first round,” Bowen wrote. “Boston’s large frame would allow him to emerge early as a volume target for new quarterback Malik Willis. He has the physical catch-and-run ability to produce on quicks and unders, while giving the Dolphins a matchup target inside the red zone. Boston had 14 red zone touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons.

“With the ball skills to win one-on-one, Boston could also isolate for this Miami offense in critical down-and-distance situations.”

At 6-4, Boston has the length and the frame to be a 50/50 ball winner, and he was a red zone specialist and touchdown machine in Seattle for the Huskies. He’s good at winning contested throws, and he could give Malik Willis an immediate safety blanket and reliable target to throw it to early in his Dolphins career.

There might be some questions about his speed (didn’t run the 40 at the combine or at Pro Day) and he had drop offs against the top teams Washington played last year in Ohio State and Oregon. But there are few players who are simply as good in the money spots of the field at producing.

I might be tagged as hypocritical here by some because I said the Dolphins didn’t need to take a wide receiver at No. 11, which they did in a recent mock draft. And I believe that for the Dolphins’ first pick. I think Miami needs to go offensive line (top preference, and will be until they build a strong unit), edge, cornerback, or — heaven forbid he fell in their laps, — a future star like Ohio State standouts Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs (both are very likely gone, but still, point remains) in that spot.

But finding help for Willis and getting the offense a playmaker (and a big one at that) is still important, and Boston could fit that bill late on Thursday night in next month’s NFL Draft.