Rishard Matthews Forcing Miami Dolphins to Consider Long-Term Union

Sometimes, a relationship has to reach its breaking point for both parties to realize they need each other. 

That seems to be what's taken place between the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Rishard Matthews. The fourth-year wideout has been up and down the Dolphins depth chart over the course of his career. There have been reports that the team was seeking to trade Matthews, as well as reports that Matthews was demanding a trade or release.

"I just saw myself as the No. 5 and I felt like I'm more than that in this league," Matthews said, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.

Year	2012	2013	2014	2015
Games	8	16	14	9
Starts	1	5	0	9
Receptions	11	41	12	42
Yards	151	448	135	647
Yards/reception	13.7	10.9	11.3	15.4
Touchdowns	0	2	2	4

But though there may be a lot of past mistrust between Matthews and the Dolphins, that doesn't mean those issues have to impact the future. Through Week 10, Matthews has notched 42 receptions for 647 yards and four touchdowns, all of which are career-high numbers. He also has 15.4 yards per reception, the most in the NFL for any receiver with 40 or more receptions.

Matthews is currently on pace to hit 1,150 receiving yards, which would be the sixth-most ever for a Dolphins receiver, and he could break the 1,000-yard plateau with just 50 yards per game in the final seven.

Forget a No. 5 receiver. Right now, Matthews is by far one of the best receivers on Miami's roster. In fact, his reliability is forcing the Dolphins to consider him in their long-term future. 

Of course, Matthews' production has been a byproduct of a few other circumstances, namely the foot injury to rookie wide receiver DeVante Parker and the slower-than-expected initiation of veteran wide receiver Kenny Stills. 

As a result, Matthews has worked primarily from the boundary in the Dolphins offense, lining up in the slot on 19.7 percent of the routes he's run according to Pro Football Focus. His role on the boundary has caused a quandary for the Dolphins, though. Mainly, what do they do with him when Parker is healthy enough to contribute again? 

Can they afford to let Matthews hit the open market as a free agent this spring without having seen anything from Parker to prove that he can develop into the promising NFL receiver he has the potential to be?

If they decide they can't, they'll need to pony up to make sure it doesn't happen. A legitimate No. 2 receiver like Matthews could command $4 to $6 million per year. Wisely, the two sides aren't talking contract details just yet.

"We don't talk about that yet, but soon we will," he said, per Beasley. "I'm not nervous at all. I feel like I put myself in a good position. If it doesn't work out here, it'll work out somewhere else."

That being said, with Stills' slow acclimation to the offense, Parker's slow recovery from surgery and the Dolphins' overall lack of skill-position firepower on offense, the Dolphins can't afford to let a talented receiver like Matthews get away.