Unexpected trade just promoted Rams castaway Tutu Atwell to Dolphins' top WR

To no one's surprise, the Los Angeles Rams did not bring back receiver Tutu Atwell in free agency. Instead, the former second-round pick joined the Miami Dolphins on a one-year, $1.4 million deal. For Atwell and the Rams, a fresh start was the best thing for both sides. 

What NFL fans did not expect was that, on March 17, Atwell would represent the most promising receiver on Miami's depth chart. That's right. After trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins' depth chart is left with free-agent pickup Jalen Tolbert, third-year receiver Malik Washington, Atwell and…others. 

Plus, of course, whatever receivers they might add in the draft. 

Even if a top prospect joins the mix, how likely is a rookie to earn the role of WR1 out of the gate? Depends on the rookie. For Atwell, the situation represents an even greater opportunity than expected when he joined the Dolphins on that one-year "prove-it" deal last week. 

Atwell should have every chance to win receiver-room competition

Atwell is coming off his least productive season in Los Angeles: six catches for 192 yards. Okay, pickings are slim, but that's the top option?

For now, he might be. Signed away from Green Bay in free agency, quarterback Malik Willis has no carry-over connection from last year with other receivers on the roster. He's new there, too.

Tolbert and Washington put up higher numbers last season, but not by much. Tolbert, who spent last season in Dallas, had 18 catches for 203 yards. Washington had 317 yards while averaging just 6.9 per reception. That ranked second among Miami wideouts. In the receiver room, Waddle was the only thing going on. 

Atwell never had a chance with the Rams last season. He contributed more in prior years, before he fell completely out of Sean McVay's favor. In 2024, Atwell recorded 562 receiving yards on a 59.7% success rate, both career-highs. Still, in the eyes of many fans, he never even scraped his potential. The team didn't use him properly or enough. 

To be fair, Tolbert was also much better two seasons ago (610 yards, seven touchdowns). But Atwell still promises more big-play potential and superior draft stock.

Although both he and Tolbert put up gaudy college numbers, Atwell did so for Louisville, in the ACC, while Tolbert played for South Alabama. Atwell was a 57th overall pick. A year later, Tolbert went 88th. The Dolphins took Washington in the sixth round two years ago. 

Granting Atwell a greater role could help him ascend

Just as he did in 2024 when Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were hurt, Tutu Atwell will have the chance to assume a larger role. That year, Nacua went out from Week 2 until late October. Kupp was absent starting in Week 3 and returned on the same date as Nacua. 

In the five games Nacua missed in that span, Atwell averaged 4.6 catches and 66.4 yards (on 6.8 targets). In four games without either of them, he averaged five catches and 71 yards (7.5 targets).

Extending the latter sample to a full 17-game season would give Atwell 85 receptions and over 1,200 yards. That's a lot of frolicking in fantasy land, but still, not bad.

That is not what happened, of course, when Nacua and Davante Adams got hurt in 2025, but at that point, Atwell was already on his way out the door. 

Atwell himself dealt with hamstring issues last season. Granted health, the right environment, and the wide-open chance created by Waddle's departure, he could swiftly seize the unexpected status as Miami's No. 1 receiver come training camp. Right now, it's fair to list him as a favorite.