The Miami Dolphins’ receiver room looks nothing like it did a year ago, and that opens the door for a rookie most fans probably aren’t talking about yet.
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both gone after new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan pushed forward with his teardown of the roster, leaving Malik Willis with a very different set of targets than the one Miami had before. Hill’s exit was tied to the devastating knee injury he suffered early last season and his massive 2026 cap hit. Waddle’s departure, meanwhile, came with questions about his fit on a team that is short on cash and likely still a long way from contention.
That’s the backdrop for a Dolphins offense that may have to lean on the run more than anyone would like. A De'Von Achane/Willis/Ollie Gordon ground game sounds fun on paper, but if Miami is trailing often, that formula won’t hold up. So Sullivan added three wideouts in the NFL Draft: third-round picks Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, plus fifth-rounder Kevin Coleman Jr.
And among that trio, Coleman is the one who stands out as the best bet to lead the team in receiving yards this season.
At first glance, Coleman doesn’t scream future No. 1 option. He’s 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, spent almost all four of his college seasons in the slot, never topped 1,000 yards, and doesn’t have the kind of overwhelming physical tools that usually make scouts dream big. But he brings something Miami needs right now: dependable separation, clean route running, and a game built on trust.
He showed that consistently in college, then carried it into the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman was charged with only seven career drops on 271 targets. He also posted a 53.7% contested catch rate, which is impressive for a player who isn’t exactly built to bully defenders.
What stood out most, though, was his toughness and his willingness to work the middle of the field while at Missouri in 2025. That’s why the argument here is that Miami may have landed a steal on Day 3. Douglas and Bell were taken earlier, but Coleman looks more ready to step in and contribute right away, especially with Bell still recovering from a knee injury.
Could one or both of those receivers eventually pass him on the depth chart? Sure.
But for this season, it’s hard to see that happening. Once camp starts, Coleman’s quickness, strong hands and ability to shake defenders should jump off the field.
If he gets a real run in the preseason, he could spend a lot of time making backup defensive backs look overmatched.
For Willis to have any kind of successful first year as Miami’s starting quarterback, he needs a receiver he can trust when the game tightens up. Right now, Coleman looks like the best candidate in the building to be that guy.
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The larger point is that this kind of list says as much about team planning as it does about the player himself. Miami does not have the luxury of ignoring a position that can tilt a season, and Willis limited experience keeps the pressure on every snap while the club weighs how much patience it really wants to show. [Read more 🡒]
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The appeal is easy to see on paper: a bargain-bin type of bet on a one-year prove-it deal, with enough upside to matter if the fit clicks. In Miami, that sort of move could even open a path to real snaps in the nickel competition, giving the Dolphins another option as they keep sorting through the back end of the defense. [Read more 🡒]