Report: Veteran Receiver Emerges as Dolphins’ Early WR1

Report: Veteran Receiver Emerges as Dolphins’ Early WR1

The Miami Dolphins’ training camp hasn’t even begun yet, and we’re still days away from the deadlines for rookies (July 21) and veterans (July 28) to report to camp. So, any assertions about what their starting receiver corps will look like come the start of the 2026 season should be taken with a grain of salt, but Jalen Tolbert is reportedly off to a strong head start to be Malik Willis’ favorite target in the air.

NBC Sports’ Patrick Daugherty said recently that Tolbert staked his claim as the Dolphins’ very early WR1 during their offseason training program.

With all the talent the Dolphins lost at the position this offseason (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle via the trade and release routes), combined with all the unproven wideouts they now have, Tolbert finds himself as a projected starter next season, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he is the WR1 for Week 1. If rookie Chris Bell is still down for the count with his ACL injury, another top pick in 2026, Caleb Douglas, underperforms in camp, and Malik Washington looks like a deer in the headlights with the added weight on his shoulders, the spot could be Tolbert’s to lose.

While Tolbert is fresh off what was a really forgettable season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, signal-caller Dak Prescott simply didn’t turn to him often, and that may have played the biggest part in his down year. He’s proven that he can put up big receiving numbers as a top target, as the year before in 2024, he posted a career year, finishing with 610 yards receiving, seven touchdowns receiving, and 29 first downs receiving.

In light of Daugherty’s update on Tolbert, he will be one name worth closely monitoring in the weeks to follow as Miami’s training camp gets underway. The first practice open to the public will be on August 2.