New Dolphins receivers Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell were drawn to the Dolphins in large part because they\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s another element that seems to excite them: playing with new Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis. Both spoke last week about the possibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great quarterback that can run and throw it, so I\u2019m just excited to be here,\u201d Atwell said.<\/p>\n
Tolbert said in Willis, \u201cI see a guy who has crazy arm strength. He loves to improvise. He\u2019s 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\u2019all before, I\u2019ve known Malik since we obviously came into the league together and he\u2019s gotten smarter. He\u2019s 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\u2019s getting the opportunity to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he has an opportunity in front of him, and I know that he\u2019s ready for it. I\u2019m looking forward to being able to be by his side and help and be there for him, be a reliable person for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hafley, Sullivan at UM<\/p>\n
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley headlined the team\u2019s contingent at the Miami Hurricanes\u2019 Pro Day on Monday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo see so many of the good players they have, it\u2019s cool being able to come right down the street to come here,\u201d Hafley said from UM\u2019s indoor facility before the workouts began, adding that it was nice to \u201csee coach [Mario] Cristobal and his staff. [UM defensive line coach] Jason Taylor, I spent a lot of time with today.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a head coach now, Hafley said he planned to watch \u201csome 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of these UM players are expected to work out for the Dolphins at the team\u2019s annual \u201clocal day\u201d next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more you can be around the players and get a feel for it and get to know them [the better],\u201d Hafley said. \u201cWe\u2019ll 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\u2019re getting off the field, that\u2019s really important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dolphins have had more players from UM than any other school. \u201cIt\u2019s nice if you have some guys that want to represent Miami,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cWhoever fits, we will bring and make a part of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
After signing 30 players since Sullivan\u2019s arrival, the Dolphins are now immersed in draft meetings, tape evaluation and attending Pro Days.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpending mornings watching a lot of guys in the draft,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cOur players will be here April 7. That\u2019s what we\u2019re looking forward to as coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waddle fallout<\/p>\n
SI.com\u2019s Albert Breer wrote an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the Jaylen Waddle trade. A couple of the highlights:<\/p>\n
\u2022 After the NFL Combine, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt \u201creached out to Sullivan, making the initial inquiry on Waddle\u2019 availability. Sullivan had gotten advances on Waddle, but nothing that progressed far, in Indianapolis. He told Burckhardt he\u2019d listen, but it wouldn\u2019t 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).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Breer noted that Broncos GM George \u201cPaton\u2019s 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\u2019d ever seen, even as Nix\u2019s Auburn team beat Waddle\u2019s Alabama team 48\u201345.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety Brandon Jones was a resource, too, having covered Waddle for three years in practice in Miami. And one of Paton\u2019s 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\u2019d ever coached.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 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\u2019s draft, because \u201cgenerally teams will look at picks a year ahead as devalued by a round, so in Miami\u2019s 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\u2019s fourth-rounder would jump 19 spots (from 130 to 111) for giving up the third-rounder.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a lot more in Breer\u2019s piece; click here for the rest.<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s my Monday 6-pack<\/a> of Dolphins notes on draft-eligible receivers visiting Dolphins headquarters and notes on Jamaree Salyer, Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and more.<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 3:26 PM.<\/p>\n
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