Dolphins rookie on pace to shatter record held by Cardinals legend

Miami Dolphins rookie receiver Jaylen Waddle is on track to break an NFL record held by former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

With the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, Anquan Boldin set the NFL rookie record for receptions in a season with 101. That record has stood ever since, despite a plethora of rookies aiming for the elusive title. Nearly 18 years later, however, Boldin’s record is now in serious jeopardy. Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has quietly and proficiently racked up the catches to be within striking distance.

Waddle sits at 86 receptions on the season, which is only 15 away from tying Boldin‘s record, and 16 more catches will put the Dolphins rookie in sole possession of the record.

Say what you will about the NFL’s first 17-game season, but in order to be close to a record, one still has to put in the work and be successful. Waddle currently averages 6.6 catches per game and he’s also had two contests this year with at least 10 receptions.

As for the rest of his production this season, Waddle’s 86 catches have resulted in 849 receiving yards and four scores. Boldin had 101 catches for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns in 2003 to put that into perspective. That just goes to show you how much of a beast Boldin was on a pathetic Cardinals team during his rookie year.

Fitting that record held by former Arizona Cardinals WR could be broken the year he’s a HOF semifinalist

With Boldin seemingly halfway to football immortality, it’s not the worst thing in the world that Waddle could usurp him for the record. Heck, it may even increase his chances of getting a bronze bust in Canton.

While Boldin should have been a career Cardinal (he was the player who made me an Arizona fan 17 years ago), one can still be happy that he got a Super Bowl ring.

Boldin would be the first Cardinals player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since Aeneas Williams “got the knock” in 2014.