New Dolphins receivers Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell were drawn to the Dolphins in large part because they’ll have an opportunity to play a lot. And Atwell will finally have a chance to play professionally in front of family, not far from where he grew up in Liberty City and starred at Miami Northwestern High.
But there’s another element that seems to excite them: playing with new Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis. Both spoke last week about the possibilities.
“We’ve got a great quarterback that can run and throw it, so I’m just excited to be here,” Atwell said.
Tolbert said in Willis, “I see a guy who has crazy arm strength. He loves to improvise. He’s going to run with his legs, try to look for a play, extend the play. A smart guy as well. I think he probably mentioned it to y’all before, I’ve known Malik since we obviously came into the league together and he’s gotten smarter. He’s learned what not to do and what to do and how to be a pro and how to carry himself in a certain way to be that guy that he’s getting the opportunity to be.
“I think he has an opportunity in front of him, and I know that he’s ready for it. I’m looking forward to being able to be by his side and help and be there for him, be a reliable person for him.”
Hafley, Sullivan at UM
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley headlined the team’s contingent at the Miami Hurricanes’ Pro Day on Monday.
Among UM defenders, Sullivan and Hafley were able to check out Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor (potential first-round options), potential second-day defensive back options Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas and potential third day picks Wesley Bissainthe and David Blay Jr.
Among UM offensive players, they checked out offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa (a potential option for Miami at No. 11), Markel Bell, Anez Cooper and James Brockermeyer and potential third-day receivers Keelan Marion and CJ Daniels and tight end Alex Bauman.
“To see so many of the good players they have, it’s cool being able to come right down the street to come here,” Hafley said from UM’s indoor facility before the workouts began, adding that it was nice to “see coach [Mario] Cristobal and his staff. [UM defensive line coach] Jason Taylor, I spent a lot of time with today.”
As a head coach now, Hafley said he planned to watch “some of the offensive guys, rather than just defensive guys. The crazy things is three years ago, I was watching a Pro Day at Boston College [as head coach]. Wow, time has gone fast.”
Many of these UM players are expected to work out for the Dolphins at the team’s annual “local day” next month.
“The more you can be around the players and get a feel for it and get to know them [the better],” Hafley said. “We’ll have a lot of local days, where these guys will come to the office. We will be able to have dinner with them, talk with them. The more you get to know them and understand what you’re getting off the field, that’s really important to us.”
The Dolphins have had more players from UM than any other school. “It’s nice if you have some guys that want to represent Miami,” Hafley said. “Whoever fits, we will bring and make a part of the city.”
After signing 30 players since Sullivan’s arrival, the Dolphins are now immersed in draft meetings, tape evaluation and attending Pro Days.
“Spending mornings watching a lot of guys in the draft,” Hafley said. “Our players will be here April 7. That’s what we’re looking forward to as coaches.”
Waddle fallout
SI.com’s Albert Breer wrote an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the Jaylen Waddle trade. A couple of the highlights:
• After the NFL Combine, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt “reached out to Sullivan, making the initial inquiry on Waddle’ availability. Sullivan had gotten advances on Waddle, but nothing that progressed far, in Indianapolis. He told Burckhardt he’d listen, but it wouldn’t be cheap-knowing that a first-rounder would have to be a part of any package coming back (and more than that if it was a low first-rounder).”
• Breer noted that Broncos GM George “Paton’s staff was already doing background work on Waddle. Bo Nix told Paton that, in the 2019 Iron Bowl, Waddle put together one of the greatest individual games he’d ever seen, even as Nix’s Auburn team beat Waddle’s Alabama team 48–45.
“Safety Brandon Jones was a resource, too, having covered Waddle for three years in practice in Miami. And one of Paton’s scouts with a tight relationship with Nick Saban reached out, and Saban told him that Waddle was competitive, tough, sudden, and could drop his weight as fast as anyone he’d ever coached.”
• Breer said the Broncos were willing to trade the 30th pick this year and a third-round pick in 2027 to land Waddle. But Sullivan insisted on the third-round pick be conveyed in this year’s draft, because “generally teams will look at picks a year ahead as devalued by a round, so in Miami’s mind, that was basically an offer of a first and a fourth. Paton and Sullivan worked through potential compromises and settled on a giveback of a fourth-round pick swap, where Denver’s fourth-rounder would jump 19 spots (from 130 to 111) for giving up the third-rounder.”
There was a lot more in Breer’s piece; click here for the rest.
Here’s my Monday 6-pack of Dolphins notes on draft-eligible receivers visiting Dolphins headquarters and notes on Jamaree Salyer, Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and more.
This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 3:26 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.