5. O.J. McDuffie, (1993- 2000)
Nicknamed “Juice”, O.J. McDuffie became Miami’s fourth all-time leading receiver, tallying 415 receptions for 5,074 yards and 29 touchdowns. Throughout his career, he broke multiple receiving records, including leading the NFL in receptions in 1988. McDuffie began primarily as the Dolphins punt and kick return man, earning fourth most in the NFL with 1,072 return yards his first season out. In 1997 he was removed from special teams altogether, and started every game as wide receiver leading the team with 76 catches, 943 yards and eight touchdowns. He became a member of the 1,000 yard reception club in 1998, recording a career high and league-best 90 catches. One of Dan Marino’s favorite targets in the 90s, McDuffie was a threat not only with his hands, but route running abilities and elusiveness.
4. Nat Moore, (1974-1986)
In his 13 seasons with the Dolphins, Moore led the team in receiving four years, finishing second all-time with 74 touchdowns and third in franchise history in receptions with 510 catches for 7,546 yards. By the close of his career, Moore managed to shatter almost every receiving record for the Dolphins. He was a top target for Bob Griese, and then later proved to be a veteran go-to for Dan Marino. Moore is famed for his “Helicopter Pass” against the New York Jets in Giants Stadium on November 4, 1984. During the play, Moore reeled in a 26 yard pass from Marino and was hit simultaneously by two Jets defenders spinning his body a full horizontal 360 degrees in the air. The catch was an imperative third-down conversion which led to a Miami score and, later, victory. Throughout his career, he also rushed for 249 yards and returned 27 punts for 297 yards.
3. Mark Duper, (1982-1992)
Three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, Mark “Super” Duper follows Warfield in career receptions with 511 ranking second in the team’s record books. Duper accounted for Miami’s career most receiving yards with 8,869 in his 11 seasons with the Dolphins, despite not catching a single ball during his rookie year. Known for his speed, the faster half of the “Marks Brothers” ranks third in all-time touchdowns with 59. He holds three of the top ten single season receiving yardage marks. Duper recorded four separate 1,000-yard seasons and 28 career 100-yard receiving games. In 1984, Duper’s performance in the 45-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship helped Miami’s passing offense break NFL records as he reeled in five passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Duper was inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll in 2003.
2. Mark Clayton, (1983-1992)
Dan Marino’s favorite target, Mark Clayton was an outside threat at wide receiver in ten seasons of work with the Dolphins. He holds the franchise record for receptions with 550 catches for 8,643 yards, second on Miami’s all-time leaderboard. His 81 career touchdown catches ranks 12th in NFL history. In his career, Clayton eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier five seasons—more than any other Dolphin. One of Marino’s best seasons in 1984 proved the Marino-Clayton tandem to be one of the deadliest as Clayton recorded an NFL-high 18 touchdown receptions that season, ranking third in the league that same year with 1,389 yards on 73 catches. Clayton was a five-time Pro Bowler and led the league twice in touchdown receptions.
1. Paul Warfield (1970-1974)
Though he only spent five seasons with Miami, Warfield was a crucial component in the Dolphins’ early 1970’s legacy that included three consecutive trips to the Super Bowl, two Super Bowl titles, and the franchise’s unparalleled undefeated 1972 campaign. Over 40 years later, he still holds Miami records for average yards-per-catch per season (25.1) and career (21.5). He tallied 427 receptions, 8,565 yards, 85 touchdowns, six All-NFL selections, and eight Pro Bowls in his career. His 20.1 yards-per-catch mark goes down as one of the best in NFL history. However, his stats alone aren’t what makes him one of the best all-time receivers in franchise history. Warfield posed as such a threat on the field, it allowed the Dolphins to use the forward pass intimidation factor as an advantage to churn out yards on the ground. During the 1972 season, the team ran the ball 613 times while passing only 259 times, rushing for a then-league high 2,960 yards.
