The Miami Dolphins are in a rebuild.
From top to bottom, most of the team’s highest earners were cut or traded this offseason, in an effort to get the team under the salary cap in 2026 and beyond. The effect of those wholesale changes are seen throughout the team, but perhaps nowhere more blatant than wide receiver.
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Last season, the team once lined up Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside. But after trading Waddle to the Denver Broncos and releasing Hill, Miami’s receiver room was left bare. So, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan’s answer was to draft three wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft—Caleb Douglas (Round 3), Chris Bell (Round 3), and Kevin Coleman Jr. (Round 5).
All three players bring different skillsets to the table, and all three have a point to prove. Seeing as rookie minicamp is finally upon us, let’s dive into what Dolphins fans expect from their rookie wide receiver trio in 2026.
Caleb Douglas: The Big-Play Threat
Of the three rookies, Douglas arrives with the highest expectations, but also the most scrutiny. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, Douglas can be the premier “X” receiver in a Dolphins offense under Bobby Slowik that lacks a prototypical physical presence on the outside. His combination of height and speed is rare, and many have drawn comparisons to Nico Collins of the Houston Texans, who Slowik worked with in Houston.
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Douglas has elite footwork, and is extremely dangerous in open space given his size. Once he gets going, he’s going to be difficult to bring down.
However, many analysts suggested the Dolphins “reached” on Douglas, noting his struggles with press coverage and catching passes in traffic. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein also noted Douglas’ drop problem in college, and how he can be easily pushed aside at the line of scrimmage. Nonetheless, the tools are there with Douglas—it’s up to him to put it together.
Verdict: High-upside starter, with a WR3/4 floor.
Chris Bell: The Injury-Riddled (Potential) Superstar
If not for injuries, Chris Bell likely would’ve been off the board well before the Dolphins selected him in the third round. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound, first-team All-ACC honoree out of Louisville boasts the production and frame of a first round pick.
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He caught 72 balls for 797 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, and can be best described as a big-bodied possession receiver. He excels in running routes across the hashes, and defenders seemingly bump right off him. He has great straight-line speed, but struggles to maintain the same tempo when cutting or changing direction. In that regard, Bell can also be a true “X” receiver for the Dolphins.
But alas, an ACL injury in 2025 raised questions about his ability to impact a team on Day One. Scouts suggest that Bell also has difficulty eluding press coverage (just like Douglas), and is less-than-proficient at separating from his defender.
Bell is one to keep an eye on as he returns to being 100% healthy, and don’t be surprised if he gets better and better each week.
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Verdict: Limited early, but can be the long-term WR1 for the Miami Dolphins.
Kevin Coleman Jr.: The Slot Sleeper
In some ways, Coleman feels like a Mike McDaniel-esque receiver. Small, quick, and a great route-runner.
Of course, Mike McDaniel is no longer with the Dolphins, so there’s that.
Coleman was one of the backbone of Missouri’s offense last season, totaling nearly twice as many receiving yards as any other Tiger (732) and finishing third on the team in total scrimmage yards. He is a slot-only wideout who needs a defined role to succeed. He has the speed to create opportunities on slot fades and skinny posts downfield, and his ability to handle utility plays and return punts will certainly serve him well in the NFL.
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But at 5’10, 180 pounds, Coleman will have his work cut out for him. His future in the NFL will rely on his ability to carve out a niche for himself, whatever that may be. For his size, it’s worth nothing that he has above-average hands and can contest for catches in traffic.
Verdict: Gadget guy, with a future returning kickoffs and punts.
The Big Picture
Even still, Miami’s wide receiver room is thin. Right now, every player is just a name on a board, and nothing else. Douglas, Bell, and Coleman have not played a single snap in a Dolphins jersey yet, and coming to any hard decisions would be silly.
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The depth chart is far from set, and veterans Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and Malik Washington will certainly give head coach Jeff Hafley something to think about. But the larger point is this: Miami’s receiving room is wide open, and if someone wants that WR1 spot, it’s certainly there for the taking.
