Dolphins to meet with three-time Pro Bowler Beckham Jr. And McDaniel, Grier go to Texas

The Dolphins -- who have internally discussed the idea of adding another high-quality receiver to pair with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, if they can make the money work -- have shown interest in free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and will meet with him on Thursday, according to a team source.

The Dolphins’ meeting with Beckham will take place in South Florida.

Beckham, 31, was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Giants, a second-team All Pro in 2015 and 2016 and a three-time Pro Bowler (2014-16).

Beckham, who’s a free agent, spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, catching 35 passes for 565 yards (a 16.1 average) and three touchdowns while appearing in 14 games and starting six.

He caught four passes for 34 yards in the Ravens’ two playoff games.

Beckham emerged as a star during his first five NFL seasons with the Giants, where he caught 390 passes for 5476 yards and 44 touchdowns.

He played for the Browns in 2019 and 2020 but sustained a torn ACL in Week 7 of the 2020 season.

He began the 2021 season with Cleveland but was released Nov. 8, three days after Beckham’s father complained on social media about how he was being used.

He finished the 2021 season with the Rams, catching 27 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games. Then he caught nine passes for 113 yards in the Rams’ victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship.

In the Super Bowl against the Bengals, Beckham scored the game’s first touchdown, a 17-yard reception. But he left the game in the second quarter with what was later determined to be another torn ACL.

At least one high-ranking member of the Dolphins organization would like to add an accomplished third receiver to complement Hill and Waddle and give Tua Tagovailoa another weapon. But they’re being selective in that process.

They’ve reached out to receivers of high pedigree and others who are less accomplished.

The question is how much they’re willing to pay.

The Dolphins are only a few million dollars under the salary cap. They can open up more space, if needed, by extending or restructuring the contract of Hill or giving Tua Tagovailoa a longterm contract.

Miami will get an additional $18.5 million in cap space when Xavien Howard comes off the team’s books on June 1.

Besides Hill and Waddle, the only other veteran receivers under contract are Braxton Berrios, Erik Ezukanma, River Cracraft (who re-signed with Miami on Wednesday) and Anthony Schwartz (who spent much of last season on the practice squad).

Chase Claypool and Robbie Chosen -- who both played for the Dolphins last season -- remain free agents. Chosen visited Dolphins offices last week.

The Dolphins upgraded their passing offense earlier this offseason by signing tight end Jonnu Smith, who led all NFL tight ends in average yards after the catch over the past three seasons.

DOLPHINS CHECK OUT LONGHORNS

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, coach Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith attended Texas’ Pro Day and spoke with several of the Longhorns top prospects.

That group includes receivers Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy; tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders; and running back Jonathon Brooks, as well as defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat.

Worthy set an NFL Combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds.

Per 247 Sports Texas writer Hank South, when McDaniel asked Worthy why he wasn’t running the 40-yard dash at Texas’ Pro Day, Worthy said: ”I didn’t wanna break the record too much.”

Worthy told Texas writers afterward of McDaniel: “He’s just like a coach known for how goofy he is. So being able to talk to him, he’s like a legend. A lot of people wish to talk to him.”

The Dolphins select 21st in April’s NFL Draft, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. -- in his latest mock draft this week -- projects Worthy to go 26th and Mitchell 32nd. LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is projected by Kiper to go 20th.

Thomas or Worthy could become considerations for the Dolphins at 21, particularly if they don’t sign a notable third receiver in free agency.

For now, they’re exploring veteran options, with Beckham high on their list.