The Miami Dolphins had moments where they appeared to be a legitimate threat to have a special 2023 season that could have resulted in a run at the Super Bowl.

The Dolphins won five of their first six games in 2023, and one of those victories was a 70-20 drubbing of the Denver Broncos. While Denver was playing awful football at the time, the thought that any team could score 70 points against an NFL opponent was shocking. The Miami offense was simply cooking at the highest level at that point.

Offense was the strong suit for the Dolphins throughout the season, but they were unable to sustain the highest level of success. After leading the AFC East for the majority of the season, they were nailed by the Buffalo Bills and they had to settle for second place and a spot in the playoffs as a Wild Card team.

Their reward — or punishment — for losing three of their last five games was a game in Kansas City under brutal winter conditions. The Dolphins could not have endured a worse situation and they dropped a 26-7 decision to the Chiefs.

The game-time temperature was minus-4 degrees F, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The wind chill was minus-27 degrees and the game was the fourth-coldest on record in NFL history.

It's hard to believe the Dolphins could ever win a game under those circumstances coming from sun-baked Miami, but a better running game would help.

Dolphins have one of the best offensive teams in the league

NFL Combine
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The Dolphins regularly trot out one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, and that should not change this year.

While they get some support from their running game, the Dolphins can put on quite the air show with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and a receiving crew that includes Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Odell Beckham Jr. There may be other teams in the league that can approach the Miami passing game, but there are no teams that can exceed what the Dolphins can do through the air as the season approaches.

Head coach Mike McDaniel had the top-ranked offense in the league in 2023 as the Dolphins gained an average of 401.3 yards per game. Not surprisingly, they also had the top-ranked passing game as they gained an averaged of 265.5 yards per game.

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The running game was adequate as the Dolphins rushed for 135.8 yards per game — rankings sixth in the league — but they were not as dominant in that area.

Rookie running back Jaylen Wright could give the Dolphins an upgrade

The Dolphins used their first two selections on Edge rusher Chop Robinson of Penn State and offensive tackle Patrick Paul out of Houston. Neither of those players are expected to be starters as the season gets underway, but both are expected to make significant contributions to the Dolphins in 2024.

So could fourth-round selection Jaylen Wright out of Tennessee. Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane are listed as the top two running backs on the depth chart, but it may be very hard to keep Wright from playing a key role in the Miami offense.

Wright is coming off an impressive year with the Volunteers. He has ordinary size at at 5-11 and 210 pounds, but he has elite speed and explosiveness. He runs a 4.38 40 and ranks among the best when it comes to both his vertical and broad jump.

Wright ran for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries, averaging an eye-catching 7.4 yards per attempt. Wright also caught 22 passes for 141 yards.

He is able to make the best tacklers miss with his short-area quickness and superb change of direction. He can be very sudden in his movements but he also has the patience to set up his blockers and take advantage of holes that develop. Once in the open field, he has the field vision to find the open lanes and run away from defenders.

Wright does not have overpowering strength, so he is not going to bowl over to many tacklers and his blocking is good but not great. If he can get a bit stronger and become more decisive when he has to initiate contact, he will have a chance to be a special performer.

Wright's bottom line

Wright is an explosive, energetic runner with eye-catching flexibility, a physical style, and the ability to run away from tacklers.

He may be a fourth-round selection, but he has a chance to deliver some explosive plays in Miami's high-powered offense.