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Roll the Tape: Braylon Sanders' deep-threat profile fits in Miami. Making the roster is another story.

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett05/04/22SpiritBen
Braylon Sanders
Braylon Sanders

Ole Miss wide receiver Braylon Sanders was the best downfield target for quarterback Matt Corral last season.

Corral was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft last weekend. Sanders, though, never heard his name called. 

He instead signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.

Few receivers produced quite like Sanders over his five-year Ole Miss career … when he was healthy. He had 1,453 yards on 69 receptions (21.1 YAC) and 10 touchdowns, including 24 receptions, 549 yards (22.9 YAC) and four touchdowns in 2021-22.

His injury history (he missed significant time in multiple seasons with various ailments, including a shoulder injury) and advanced age (23) likely played a significant role in his draft result.

Still, Sanders landed with an organization that arguably fits his skillset as well as anyone. 

Sanders produced touchdowns on 14.5 percent of his Ole Miss career receptions. He had three touchdowns of 40-plus yards and six of 30-plus yards. The Rebels, offensively, averaged 43.9 points per game in games he found the end zone.

Miami traded for star Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the offseason. The Dolphins quickly signed him to a lucrative contract, which will keep him in Miami until the 2026 season, when he’ll be 32. The duration of his extension makes him the highest-paid receiver in the history of the NFL, both in annual salary ($30 million) and guaranteed value ($72.2 million).

Hill teams up with Jaylen Waddle to form one of the very best 1-2 speed tandems on the perimeter in the league. Both check in below 6-feet, but their freakish athletic profiles, specifically elite-level speed, as well as their multi-purpose usage on offense and special teams, set them apart from the rest of the field. 

The Dolphins also signed veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson away from the Dallas Cowboys with a multi-year contract. He’s locked in as their No. 3.

Like all undrafted free agents, Sanders will have a steep hill to climb in order to make the 53-man roster.

But an uninspiring group of veterans are behind the aforementioned three, among them Cody Core, another former Ole Miss Rebel. Others include veterans Preston Williams (a likely roster lock), Trent Sherfield and Lynn Bowden. Bowden is a converted quarterback.

Sanders’ speed (he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine) and proven deep-threat ability should give him a chance. Granted, he’ll also have to compete with Erik Ezukanma (Texas Tech) and Tanner Conner (Idaho State) in rookie minicamp. Ezukanma was a fourth-round pick, while Conner, like Sanders, was undrafted. 

Ezukanma was the second player taken by the Dolphins in the draft. Their first selection didn’t come until the third following the trade for Hill.

Here’s a bit of what Sanders brings to the table. Roll the tape.

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