The Miami Dolphins have their quarterback in first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill, but who will be his receivers this season?
That's something coach Joe Philbin, offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and receivers coaches Ken O'Keefe and Phil McGeoghan will need to sort out before the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Houston Texans.
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Tannehill had his worst statistical game of the summer, completing 11 of 27 passes for 112 yards with an interception for a rating of 37.9 in Friday night's 23-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. (Backup Matt Moore fared no better, completing just 4 of 12 passes).
Legedu Naanee's work in the offseason and early in training camp vaulted him to one of the top two spots on the Dolphins' receiver depth chart, but he has just two receptions for 20 yards in three preseason games. Friday night, Naanee was targeted five times, but he came down with only one reception as he and Tannehill didn't appear to be on the same page, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald noted.
Marlon Moore, Friday night's other starter at wideout, came up empty on four targets. Even the normally sure-handed Anthony Fasano dropped balls. The only reliable receiver was, and has been, Davone Bess, who has a team-high seven receptions for 82 yards this preseason. Bess is a top slot receiver, but he lacks the size to play on the perimeter on a full-time basis.
Naanee will stick on the Dolphins' roster -- timing issues with Tannehill can improve with practice -- as will Bess, the injured (but returning soon) Brian Hartline and most likely Julius Pruitt, who is a valuable special-teams player.
Beyond that, it's a crap shoot. The Dolphins could add a receiver off the waiver wire or via a trade, with whoever being the odd man/men out (James Jones, Diondre Borel, Jarrett Boykin) on the Green Bay Packers' roster being potential targets.
Follow Brian McIntyre on Twitter _@brianmcintyre_.
