Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios analyzes NFL’s new kickoff rules

Braxton Berrios may be one of the Miami Dolphins who has possibly the most unique adjustment to make this offseason.

The veteran wide receiver and return specialist, who enters his second season with the Dolphins after once starring for the Miami Hurricanes, is at the heart of the NFL’s biggest rule change in the 2024 offseason as a kick returner.

The changes involve a “landing zone” for kicks between the receiving team’s goal line and 20-yard line, keeps kickoffs at the kicking team’s 35-yard line but brings the remaining 10 players on that side to line up at the opponent’s 40-yard line while the receiving team mostly lines up in a “setup zone” between the 35- and 30-yard lines as a maximum of two returners can be in the landing zone.

“First and foremost, I love it,” said Berrios, who re-signed with Miami for another year this offseason, on Tuesday in a web conference with reporters. “I think it brings back a really exciting play in the game where it was kind of eliminated the last few years, especially earlier in the season in the warmer conditions. Just been bouncing off each other strategies, what we think might what we can see happening, what we think is the best way to go about it.

“I think Week 1, that opening kickoff of the season is going to be very interesting, all across the board.”

There’s a lot of uncertainty around the league over how it will play out once teams do it beginning with August’s preseason and then the upcoming regular season in September.

“My best guess is just that, a guess,” Berrios said. “That opening kickoff Week 1, there’s going to be a lot of trial and error. I don’t think we’ll see much in preseason. I think everybody’s going to pop it up and let your cover guys cover and see who can block on the return team. Week 1, everyone’s going to think they have the ace of cards up their sleeves.

“The zone is a lot tighter. There’s not as much drops on the kickoff return teams. You’re going to have to get on guys earlier. And the cover team, they’re going to have to make decisions quicker and with way less of a running head start.”

Berrios said he expects holes to open up.

The new kickoff rules resemble those utilized in the UFL and XFL, and Berrios said the Dolphins have studied tape from kickoffs in other leagues.

“That’s obviously the starting point for trying to figure out what’s going to happen,” Berrios said. “Seeing what other teams did, what worked, what didn’t. … One returner, two returners? All those things are questions.”

Berrios was pleased to return to the Dolphins this offseason, even as the team is openly looking to add another talented wideout to its receiving corps.

“Absolutely ecstatic to be back here,” he said. “That was the hope, and I’m really happy that it worked out.”

This story will be updated.

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