The Miami Dolphins spent a good portion of the offseason looking for a veteran receiver to add to the roster. That search came to an end on April 22 when the Dolphins signed Greg Jennings to a two-year contract. Jennings will turn 32 before the end of September, so he will have to show that his tank is still full or he won’t make it to the second half of that deal.

Miami has second-year stud Jarvis Landry and newcomer Kenny Stills ahead of Jennings on the depth chart. The former Western Michigan standout should settle in as the No. 3 receiver, which can still be a solid spot for him. Nobody in south Florida is really anticipating that Jennings will put up numbers like he did in his younger days as a member of thevGreen Bay Packers. What is expected of Jennings is to provide good route-running, reliable hands and leadership both in the receiver room and locker room.

When Jennings was playing for the Minnesota Vikings a season ago, he was a steadying influence on rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. There is plenty of hope that he will have that same type of impact on the career of Ryan Tannehill. Miami’s fourth-year signal caller is ready to have a breakout campaign, but that will not be possible if Jennings can’t replace the departed Brian Hartline as his safety valve. Tannehill once helped Hartline obtain a 1,000-yard receiving season. Even at his advanced age, Jennings still does have enough quickness to get open down the field too. With defensive backs occupied with Stills’ burning speed and Landry’s unique ability to get open all over the gridiron, maybe Jennings will be someone who can silently find space in the secondary.

There is a slight chance of a roadblock to Jennings’ starting spot once the exhibition season begins. Rookie first-round draft pick DeVante Parker was selected early by the Dolphins to someday become a star. That day will be delayed because Parker had foot surgery recently. But if the freshman finds his way to the field before September, then he will pose the most competition to Jennings in camp. It is highly doubtful, however, that a healthy Parker would steal away the former All-Pro’s role on this squad.

With 552 receptions and over 8,000 yards receiving in his career, Jennings is one of the best wideouts still participating in the NFL. He had the help of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on a lot of those catches, though. Tannehill is not in the same class as either of those gunslingers, but he should still form a good combination with his new teammate. If Tannehill can become as comfortable with Jennings as he was with Hartline, then that good combination can become a great one.