Berrios will return for a second season in Miami after re-signing with the Dolphins for another year. His decision to return comes after serving as not only the team’s primary punt and kick returner, but also as their slot receiver. 29-year-old veteran posted 27 receptions for 238 receiving yards and one touchdown while appearing in a career-high 44% of the offensive snaps.
While Berrios will likely serve as the Dolphins’ primary returner — especially with the new kickoff rules going into place this season — he’ll likely see a decline in playing time on offense this season with the addition of three-time Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The former All-Pro receiver will likely be one of Miami’s three primary receiving weapons, alongside star wideouts, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Berrios says Beckham is a “great guy” and he’s “looking forward” to playing alongside the Super Bowl champion receiver.
“He’s been awesome,” Berrios says after meeting Beckham. “Seems like a great guy. Obviously, this football world is small. I have a lot of friends that know him and have said the same. I’m looking forward to it (playing with him). Any position across the board, we need as much help as we can get. I think it was a great pickup and I’m excited.”
The addition of Beckham — who played a similar role with the Baltimore Ravens last season — will undoubtedly improve Miami’s receiving core and make life easier for Tua Tagovailoa. However, Berrios still aims to have an increased role at receiver.
“Absolutely,” says Berrios of wanting an increased role as a receiver. “I was a starting slot last season and that was tough to earn. And it’s going to be tough to earn again. Honestly, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
Berrios will obviously have his eyes set on retaining the slot receiver role — in addition to his returner duties — entering next season for Miami. And while he’s a competitor, he does admit enjoying playing alongside arguably the NFL’s best receiving duo in Hill and Waddle.
“I think that’s one of the best things about our room, it’s like a huge information transfer,” Berrios says. “We’ll watch film and Tyreek’s doing something or Jaylen’s doing something. That’s the best thing — iron sharpens iron. Nobody moves like Tyreek. He’s the fastest person in the world to me. Watching them day in and day out, seeing how they work and how they operate has been tremendous for me in my game, and in the room as a whole side of things.”
The Dolphins will once again enter the 2024 season with high expectations. Although Miami has clinched a playoff spot in each of the past two years and has posted a winning record in each of the last four seasons, they haven’t won a playoff game since the 2000 season. That actually marks the longest drought in the NFL.
Although Miami started out the 2023 season posting record numbers on offense — they ended the season No. 2 in scoring — the Dolphins still came up short in a wild card playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
When asked what the Dolphins need to do to get over the hump, Berrios answered that there’s “no special formula” and it starts with laying the foundation in training camp. Training camp will start for Berrios and Dolphins veterans on July 28.
Berrios makes sure to outline camaraderie and the sacrifices that the team is willing to make throughout a season. He also says there isn’t necessarily “one thing” that the Dolphins need to do, they just need to “execute” those “big-time moments.”
While Berrios will obviously be concentrated on improving and securing his spot in the offense and on special teams, he makes sure to mention the obvious goals for the 2024 season — which center on team-oriented objectives.
“First and foremost, win the AFC East,” Berrios says. “Win playoff games and win a Super Bowl.”