Dolphins WR Stills doesn't view himself as Wallace's replacement
DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins' newest wide receiver approached the podium at Doctors Hospital Training Facility on Saturday afternoon sporting a wild hairdo that spoke louder than his humble words.
Kenny Stills, acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, came to the Dolphins just hours before the team shipped disgruntled wideout Mike Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings for a fifth-round pick on Friday night.
Stills, however, doesn't believe the two moves are connected.
"I don't think I was brought in to replace anybody," said Stills, who greeted reporters with a black-and-gold hi-top. "I'm just here to do whatever I can to help the team win. Mike's a great player, and I've looked up to the things that he's done. Like I said, I'm just here to help the team win any way that I can."
Though Stills doesn't feel the pressure to be the one who fills the void created by Wallace's departure, the similarities between Miami's newest receiver and its former No. 1 target are hard to ignore.
Stills, 22, had 63 receptions, 931 yards and three touchdowns with New Orleans last season. Wallace, meanwhile, reeled in 67 receptions for 862 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns in Miami.
Like Wallace, Stills also has the ability to use his speed to make big plays down field, evidenced by his career average of 16.5 yards per reception. Stills, however, would prefer not to be labeled simply as a "speed receiver."
"I would describe myself a complete receiver," said Stills, who made 10 receptions of 20 yards or more last season. "Every day I try to come with the right attitude. I'm trying to get better and maximize myself in all facets of the game. I'm 22 and I'm young and I'm still working on my game, so there's plenty for me to improve on."
In acquiring Stills, Miami has gained an "ascending player" who will also be a "positive teammate both on and off the field," according to Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey.
"We've had Kenny Stills on our radar for some time," Hickey said. "The opportunity to add a talented, young, athletic, fast, consistent receiver to our roster was something that we definitely looked into."
A fifth-round pick in 2013 out of Oklahoma, Stills has progressed rapidly in his first two NFL seasons. Last year, he nearly doubled his reception total from 2013 while also averaging 22 more receiving yards per game.
Stills may not be at Wallace's level yet, but he should be viewed as a player with the potential to become Miami's future No. 1 if he continues on his current trajectory.
With Wallace out of the picture, Stills will have a chance to become a star in Miami. With his first game at Sun Life Stadium still several months away, however, the modest wideout isn't ready to look that far ahead.
"I'm not really looking and focusing on my ceiling right now," Stills said. "I'm just excited to be here, happy to be here and working my tail off to make sure that I can maximize my potential."
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
