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The Miami Dolphins signed a wide receiver in free agency
Despite their salary cap issues, the Miami Dolphins have been busy in free agency making additions to fill out their roster ahead of the 2026 NFL season. These were much-needed additions, as the team had to release a large number of players to help improve their salary cap situation. Additionally, Miami has been unable to re-sign some of their restricted or unrestricted free agents, and have even seen them go to division rivals.
Undoubtedly, their biggest addition so far has been the signing of quarterback Malik Willis on a three-year, $67 million contract. Now, Miami has made another signing with the hopes of adding a playmaking option for the new Dolphins quarterback.
Miami Dolphins Sign Tutu Atwell
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Miami Dolphins had agreed to a one-year deal with wide receiver Tutu Atwell. Atwell, a former second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams.
He became a free agent after the 2024 season, but re-signed with the Rams on a one-year, $10 million contract. During the 2024 season, Atwell set a career-high with 562 receiving yards. However, that number drastically diminished in the 2025 season as Atwell finished with only six receptions for 192 yards.
Regarding the signing and fit in Miami, Sports Illustrated’s Dante Collinelli wrote, “Atwell can be the deep threat and create space for Waddle to work a more well-rounded game and route tree. Just because the Dolphins overindulged on speed in the McDaniel-Grier era doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing to have in a receiver room.
Speed can do a lot for you, especially when you have two players capable of scaring defenses with their vertical ability.”
Miami Dolphins Wide Receivers
Atwell’s signing with the Dolphins comes as somewhat of a surprise due to his size. As Collinelli mentioned, under Mike McDaniel, Miami made an emphasis on speed and separation ability in their receivers without accounting for height and size. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan indicated that the team would look to add size, as he said, “We will make a conscientious effort to maybe be a little bigger in that room. Waddle and Malik (Washington) will help (the room). To say we’re going to have a room of 5-9 guys would be a lie.”
Despite those comments, Sullivan signed Atwell, who is listed at 5-9, 165 pounds. Whether that leads to the Dolphins parting ways with one of their other short receivers remains to be seen.
Collinelli also wrote on potential big-bodied receivers the Dolphins could target to improve their wide receiver room. He listed Denzel Boston out of Washington as someone Miami could target in the draft. He wrote, “The Washington product is listed at 6-4, 209 pounds, but he moves like a receiver at 6-1, 205. He’s super smooth in and out of his routes and can stack defensive backs vertically.
Boston had an outrageous 76.9% contested catch rate last season, according to Pro Football Focus. It would be surprising to see Miami spend a first-round pick on a receiver, but perhaps a trade-back scenario could make Boston more appealing.”
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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