Dolphins add former UM and Jets receiver Berrios

The Dolphins have had more players from the University of Miami than any other school. And on Thursday, they added a popular former Hurricane when they agreed to a one-year deal with exNew York Jets receiver

Braxton Berrios, according to a league source.

Berrios had 107 catches for 1,085 yards (10.1 average) and five touchdowns for the Jets during the past four seasons, including 18 receptions for 145 yards last season.

He appeared in 65 games and started five during those four seasons in New York.

Berrios also is a skilled returner; he has averaged 11.4 yards on 67 career punt returns, and 24.9 yards and a touchdown on 67 career kickoff returns.

He led the league in kickoff return average at 30.4 in 2021. He was fifth in punt return average last season with an 11.4 average on 21 punt returns, and he averaged 23.1 yards on 26 kickoff returns last season, which ranked 13th in the NFL (minimum 10 returns).

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill called Berrios “Wes Welker 2.0” on Twitter on Wednesday. Welker, the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach, was a very productive slot receiver and returner during a 12-year career.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. took over Dolphins return duties midway through last season and averaged 7.5 yards on 13 punt returns. Starting running back Raheem Mostert

handled many of the kickoff returns and averaged 20.1 on 25 kickoff returns.

Berrios caught 100 passes for 1,175 yards and 14 TDs in four seasons for the Hurricanes and was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots in 2018, but spent the season on injured reserve.

The Jets claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1, 2019, and he caught six passes for 115 yards as a rookie, then added 37 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns in his second season.

He set a career high with 46 catches and 431 yards in his third season (2021), to go along with two touchdowns, but his playing time dipped last season, from 38 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps in 2021 to 27 percent last season.

In 2021, he was 10th in the league in all-purpose yards with 1,524.

He signed a two-year, $12 million extension with the Jets last March but was waived on March 9.

His addition gives Miami seven receivers under contract: Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Berrios, Wilson, Erik Ezukanma, Freddie Swain and Braylon Sanders.

Wilson signed with the Dolphins less than two weeks before Miami acquired Hill, and his role as a result was less than expected. He caught 12 passes for 136 yards last season, after catching 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns for Dallas in 2021.

Wilson has a $7 million base salary for 2023 — with $5 million already guaranteed — and an $8 million cap number for 2023.

As of Thursday morning, there was nothing percolating with free agent receivers Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft with Miami, but neither can be ruled out.

OTHER MOVES

The Dolphins on Thursday signed veteran guard/ center Dan Feeney, who started 48 games for the Chargers from 2018-2020 and started seven games for the Jets over the past two seasons. He could replace Michael Deiter as Miami’s backup center.

The Dolphins also resigned offensive tackle Geron Christian, who has started 16 games for Houston and Washington in his career, on both the left and right side. Miami claimed him off waivers from Kansas City in January, but he didn’t appear in Miami’s regular season finale or playoff game.

The Dolphins re-signed cornerback Nik Needham

to a one-year deal at just below $2 million late Wednesday. He tore his Achilles’ in the sixth game last season. They also re-signed fullback John Lovett, who spent last season on injured reserve.

Also Thursday, former Dolphins linebacker Elandon Roberts signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh, and free agent linebacker Andrew Van

reportedly took a visit with New England.