Sizing up the Dolphins’ draft options at wide receiver. Help will be added
In two years, wide receiver has gone from a Dolphins strength to one of the worst units in the league, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle now gone.
Miami very likely will address the position with one or two of its seven picks in the first three rounds of April’s NFL Draft.
Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is widely expected to be off the board by 11. If he is somehow there at 11, he would be incredibly tempting.
If not, there would be two wide receiver options at 11: Southern California’s Makai Lemon, 5-11, whose size is less than what the Dolphins seem to want ideally; and Arizona State’s 6-2 Jordyn Tyson, who has missed 18 college games due to various injuries.
“Why is he there at 14?” ESPN’s Kiper said of Tyson. “Durability concerns. He’s had three different injuries — now the hamstring. He’s only there because of that. He wouldn’t be at 14 if it wasn’t for that. Go back to 2024 when [then-ASU QB] Sam Leavitt was healthy. Last six games in 2024, Tyson was uncoverable. You could make the argument if it wasn’t for the injuries, he would be wide receiver one.”
Kiper, in his final mock draft, slots Tate seventh, Tyson ninth and Lemon 13th and says all three are about even in ability. Lemon visited the Dolphins. It’s unknown if Miami brought in Tyson; his camp refuses to say. But general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan led a Dolphins contingent that watched him working out last Friday in Tempe, Arizona.
Here’s how NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sizes up those three:
1). Tate, who caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns: “Tate has good size [6-3] but would benefit from more play strength. Pass catching comes effortlessly with soft, strong hands, and he consistently works back on throws to keep ballhawks from hawking. Tate displays rare polish for a player his age and has the talent to become a heralded pro within his first three seasons.”
2). Tyson, who caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games: “Learning from Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward helped unlock Tyson’s production and elevated his draft stock. He’s added size and improved his route running over the last two years, showing he can align at all three receiver spots. He’s not a blazer but has enough speed to work down the field.... A history of injuries might explain inconsistent competitiveness as a run blocker in 2025. The wiring, versatility and finishing talent point to a WR1 ceiling.”
Tyson, incidentally, had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs in 2024.
3). Lemon, who caught 79 for 1,156 and 11 TDs: “High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills. Lemon has room for refinement, but not much. He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels. He’s an exceptional ball-tracker with excellent catch timing and few focus drops. He wins more combat catches than he loses. Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said several teams have been unimpressed by Lemon in predraft meetings, alleging that he had trouble explaining USC’s offense.
Indiana’s Omari Cooper Jr., who had 13 touchdown catches last season, has emerged as the No. 4 receiver in the draft in the eyes of a few draft analysts, but others view Washington’s Denzel Boston as WR 4. Boston has 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and visited the Dolphins on Wednesday; he has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver, evaluators say.
Kiper has Cooper going 16th and Boston 20th, so it’s highly debatable if either will be available when Miami picks 30th.
Kiper said Boston’s “dependable hands and ability to box out defenders with his strength make the quarterback’s job a lot easier. He has developed into a nuanced route runner who uses his size and physicality to shield defenders from the football. His length and catch radius make life miserable for opposing cornerbacks.”
“Scouts have been enamored with Cooper since midseason, and his stock has skyrocketed as a response,” said ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who has called him a late first-rounder.
Miami also hosted Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion on a visit, and he would be a possibility at No. 30 or No. 43 if he’s on the board. Kiper slots him 42nd, lower than most.
As for Concepcion, he “is a fluid, gliding athlete who specializes in getting open before the catch and creating after it,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said.
Four other receivers could be in play with Miami’s pick at 43 or a trade down to later in the round: Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields (36 catches, 630 yards, 5 TDs), Georgia’s Zachariah Branch (81 catches, 811 yards, six touchdowns), Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II (62-1,017-9 TDs) and Alabama’s Germie Bernard (64, 882, 7 TDs).
Kiper rates Bernard highest of the group and mocks him to Miami at 34, a pick the Dolphins don’t own but would get from Arizona in a Kiper-created trade down from 30.
“Bernard has underrated speed (4.48) and superb hands, and new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik could get creative in how he uses him,” Kiper said. Zierlein said he projects as an above-average No. 2 or No. 3 receiver.
Fields, 6-4, averaged 17.5 yards per reception last season and “uses elite size and strength to bully defensive backs,” Zierlein said. “Notre Dame’s run-heavy approach and quarterback play slowed Fields’ production somewhat but his tape was filled with impressive moments.... Fields might never be a star, but his traits, playing style and ball skills should make him a productive WR2 in time.” (He could fall to the third round.)
As for the 5-10 Branch, he “doesn’t have ideal size, but he has a track background and is lightning quick, Kiper said. “He reminds me a little of Zay Flowers. Branch plays the game at a different speed than everyone else, and it is why he’s so effective in space. He can take a short completion for a big gain with his explosive skill set, averaging 7.9 yards after the catch per reception. And Branch also is a dynamic returner, which will help his draft stock.”
Branch was arrested in Athens, Ga., on Sunday morning and is facing misdemeanor charges of obstructing public sidewalks/streets --- prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Zierlein said the 6-5 Brazzell has “the ability to create downfield for an offense thirsty to make more explosive plays outside. Brazzell’s 2025 tape shows the game slowing down for him, allowing the production to catch up with the traits. Brazzell didn’t see many in-your-face press challenges this past season, but he’s likely to get an early taste of it as a pro... The quick-strike potential is real.”
As for Concepcion, he “is a fluid, gliding athlete who specializes in getting open before the catch and creating after it,” The Athletic’s Brugler said.
Beyond those aforementioned five, some other receivers who could be in play on Day 2:
▪ Louisville’s Chris Bell: He torched UM earlier last season (nine catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns) and finished the season with 72 for 917 and six TDs. But he’s still recovering from a late-season ACL tear. Taking him at 43 wouldn’t be entirely out of the question.
Zierlein said the 6-2 Bell is a “possession receiver coming off of his most productive year. Bell lacks dynamic qualities and his ACL tear could impact his draft slotting, but he’s a big, physical target with room to improve. He has a chance to become an average WR2/3 in time.”
▪ Georgia Southern’s Ted Hurst: Miami brought him to team headquarters for a 30 visit and his size (6-4), speed (4.42 in the 40) and immense production (15 TDs in two seasons) make him intriguing and a possibility with one of Miami’s four picks in the third round.
“He can run, can build speed, track the ball, had a really good Senior Bowl,” Jeremiah said.
▪ North Dakota State’s 6-3 Bryce Lance (51-1,079-eight touchdowns). Zierlein notes he has “two seasons of explosive production as a boundary target. He has run-by speed on the FCS level but won’t be able to rely on pure gas to beat NFL coverage... Should compete for a role as a backup.”
▪ Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson: Seems unlikely, because he’s 5-9 and Miami already has a 5-9 receiver in Tutu Atwell. Sullivan has said he doesn’t want a room full of short receivers.)
Yates mocks him 53rd, noting he “ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the Combine (4.26 seconds) and led the SEC in receiving yards this past season (1,054). He can consistently get separation downfield, which will translate well to the next level.”
▪ Other potential third- or fourth-rounders: USC’s 6-4 Ja’Kobi Lane (49-745-four touchdowns), Baylor’s Josh Cameron; Texas Tech’s Reggie Virgil; Oklahoma’s Deion Burks; Clemson’s Antonio Williams; Georgia Tech’s Eric Rivers; Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr.; LSU’s Barion Brown; Mississippi State; Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt.
Here’s my piece on the Dolphins’ search for a safety in the draft and their options.
Here’s my look at edge players in the draft.
Here’s my look at cornerback in the draft.
Here’s my look at offensive line options in the draft.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 9:19 AM.
