Dee Eskridge Bio
D’Wayne “Dee” Eskridge is an American professional football wide receiver and kickoff returner for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos and was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Eskridge has earned accolades for his performance in college, being named a second-team All-American and the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2020. Eskridge has played for the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Dolphins and has made notable impacts in his professional career so far.
Early Life and Background
D’Wayne “Dee” Eskridge was born on March 23, 1997, in Winona, Mississippi. He grew up in Winona before his family moved to Bluffton, Indiana, while he was in grade school. He attended Bluffton High School, where he played football and also ran as a sprinter on the track team. His athletic ability earned him the title of Indiana’s Mr. Track and Field as a senior, signaling his blend of speed and football talent early on.
Eskridge’s family background helped shape his athletic path, and the move from Mississippi to Indiana provided a wider range of competitive opportunities. Even as a high schooler, he showed the kind of explosive speed that would later define his professional profile. He committed to play college football at Western Michigan, choosing the Broncos over Ball State, which was the only other FBS program to offer him a scholarship.
Path to American Football
Eskridge’s path to the NFL began with steady development at Western Michigan, where he worked his way from a reserve role into a featured offensive player. He saw playing time as a freshman and became a starter going into his sophomore season, finishing that year with 30 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he caught 38 passes for 776 yards and three touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most consistent receivers in the Mid-American Conference.
A collarbone injury during his senior season forced him to use a medical redshirt, but he came back strong as a redshirt senior, returning to receiver while adding kickoff return duties. That final college campaign produced his biggest statistical season and his most prestigious awards, and it set the stage for an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl. His performance at Western Michigan caught the attention of NFL scouts, leading to his selection early in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Dee Eskridge Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Eskridge began his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the second round, 56th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 14, 2021, worth $5.9 million in total with a $1.6 million signing bonus. His rookie year was interrupted by a concussion that sent him to injured reserve on October 7, but he returned to action on November 12 and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Russell Wilson in a 30-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on December 5, 2021. In ten games that season, he recorded ten receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown.
The 2022 season brought another setback when Eskridge was placed on injured reserve on November 26 with a broken hand. He appeared in ten games that year, finishing with seven receptions for 58 yards. Despite the injuries, he continued to develop his role within the Seattle offense and on special teams, laying the groundwork for his future as a returner.
Seattle Seahawks Later Years (2023)
Eskridge was suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The penalty followed an inquiry into a February 2023 arrest on misdemeanor charges after a confrontation with the mother of his child. He appeared in only four games during the 2023 season, limiting his statistical impact. On August 27, 2024, the Seahawks waived him, ending his time in Seattle after three seasons.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024–Present)
On August 29, 2024, Eskridge signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, and on October 25 he was promoted to the active roster. He provided depth at wide receiver and contributed on special teams in his first season with the club. On May 12, 2025, Eskridge re-signed with the Dolphins, signaling the team’s continued confidence in his skill set.
In 13 appearances for Miami, he recorded four receptions for 62 scoreless yards. On December 27, 2024, Eskridge was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a toe injury suffered in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He has continued to work as a kickoff returner in addition to his wide receiver duties during his time in South Florida.
Driving Style and Strengths
Eskridge’s professional profile is built on elite straight-line speed, a trait that earned him Indiana’s Mr. Track and Field recognition in high school. He uses that speed to stretch defenses as a wide receiver and to flip field position as a kickoff returner, accumulating 1,300 career return yards. He is most effective in space, where his acceleration allows him to separate from coverage and break long returns. His versatility on offense and special teams makes him a valuable complementary piece in Miami’s scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Eskridge’s career are his first NFL touchdown on December 5, 2021, against the San Francisco 49ers, and his 2020 All-American and MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors at Western Michigan. He was also part of the 2021 Senior Bowl, a showcase event for top draft prospects. His selection in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft confirmed his status as one of the most explosive playmakers in his college class.
Dee Eskridge Career Wins
Dee Eskridge’s career is still in its early chapters, and his on-field wins have come primarily in the form of individual milestones and team victories during his time with the Seattle Seahawks and the Miami Dolphins. His first NFL touchdown, scored in a 30-23 win over the San Francisco 49ers, stands as a key early career highlight. He has continued to contribute through his work on special teams, where his return ability has consistently created scoring opportunities.
Western Michigan Highlights
At Western Michigan, Eskridge’s signature win came during his redshirt senior season, when he led the Mid-American Conference with 784 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 34 receptions. He also returned 16 kickoffs for 467 yards and a touchdown, earning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Those performances were instrumental in the Broncos’ offensive success and helped cement his draft stock.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his college achievements, Eskridge has earned recognition through his consistent role as a returner at the NFL level, accumulating 1,300 career return yards. While he has not yet recorded a 1,000-yard receiving season, his impact on special teams has remained a steady contribution to his teams.
Dee Eskridge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eskridge’s family includes his parents, who raised him first in Winona, Mississippi, before relocating to Bluffton, Indiana, during his grade school years. The family’s move gave him access to competitive high school programs in Indiana, where he developed into a state-level track and field star. His background reflects a supportive environment that nurtured his athletic ambitions from a young age.
Personal Life
Eskridge is a United States citizen by nationality and was born in Winona, Mississippi. He has faced personal challenges, including a February 2023 arrest on misdemeanor charges following a confrontation with the mother of his child, an incident that led to a six-game NFL suspension under the personal conduct policy. Beyond that, he has maintained a relatively private personal life while focusing on his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins.
2025 Season Performance
Eskridge’s 2025 storyline with the Miami Dolphins centers on his May 12, 2025, re-signing and his effort to return from the toe injury that ended his previous season in December 2024. He is expected to contribute on offense and special teams, where his return skills remain a key asset. With 1,300 career return yards already to his name, he will look to build on that production in the new campaign.
His role within the Dolphins’ depth chart and his ability to stay healthy will shape his statistical output for the year. The team has continued to value his speed and versatility, and a healthy 2025 could mark a return to the kind of dynamic playmaking that defined his college career. Eskridge’s experience in the system should also help him integrate more quickly into game plans.
Looking ahead, Eskridge’s outlook for 2025 will depend on his recovery and his usage in both the receiver room and on kickoff returns. If he can stay on the field, his combination of track-level speed and NFL experience positions him to make a meaningful impact for the Dolphins this season. His journey from Indiana Mr. Track and Field to a second-round NFL pick underscores the potential he still carries into the new year.