Dolphins Need to Double-Dip at Wide Receiver in Draft

Dolphins Need to Double-Dip at Wide Receiver in Draft

With the trade of Jaylen Waddle early last week to the Denver Broncos, Miami’s wide receiver room is suddenly barren.

Long gone are the days when the Dolphins had a plethora of receiving options in Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson, and others.

Now, heading into the final two weeks of March, Malik and Tahj Washington are the lone holdovers from the 2025 squad.

And neither of them is going to pass as the number one option in any NFL offense.

That is not to say that either of them, or the free-agent additions Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, can’t be valuable complementary options.

However, Miami can do better at the position.

Much better.

During the NFL draft next month, the Dolphins should aim to add two future playmakers at the position.

It could start at pick 11, where Miami could have a choice of adding serious size at the position with the possibility of Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson.

If they want to address the offensive or defensive line with that pick, that is fine.

They could take the 30th pick and grab former Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr.

All three of the aforementioned players would represent a bigger body upgrade at the position to play alongside the players who are already here.

Miami should not stop there, though.

In rounds 2, 3, and 4, there will be players such as Chris Bell from Louisville, Skyler Bell from the University of Connecticut, Ted Hurst from Georgia State, and Bryce Lance from North Dakota State.

Imagine a wide receiver room with Tate, Hurst, Tolbert, Atwell, Malik Washington, and Tahj Washington.

Talk about diversifying in size and skill sets.

That would be three 6-foot-tall players, which is very different from the days when it seemed like every receiver was 6 feet tall.

Think about the route combinations and play-calling that new offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, could employ.

There should be no more gripes from the fanbase about Miami throwing fade routes to shorter players.

Instead, with Tate, Tolbert, and Hurst, for example, the Dolphins should be able to play bully ball on the outside.

In fact, if the Dolphins draft any combination of the wide receivers listed above, they could employ that strategy.

I know the new starting quarterback, Malik Willis, will have a much easier time throwing the ball up knowing that he has some big receivers on the outside.

It seems like Miami wants to play keep away in 2026 to help out their young defense.

Adding some monsters on the outside would certainly help that goal.