Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins were floated the idea of adding wide receiver Brandin Cooks
The Miami Dolphins’ roster has taken a toll this offseason. The team released five Pro Bowl players in Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb, Alec Ingold and Jason Sanders. Miami did not stop there as they also traded away star talent like Jaylen Waddle and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The moves can be considered drastic as Miami’s cap space is mostly filled by players who will not be on the roster for the 2026 season. As a result, the Dolphins have gone bargain shopping during free agency, mostly adding players on veteran minimum deals and offering little guaranteed money.
Miami’s lone exception to their free agent mold has been quarterback Malik Willis, whosigned a three-year, $67 million contract with $45 million guaranteed. Upon signing, the idea of pairing Willis with Achane and Waddle to create one of the fastest offenses in the NFL seemed intriguing; however, that idea soon vanished after the Dolphins traded away Jaylen Waddle. Now, Miami is in a spot where they need to add playmakers at the receiver position if they want to ensure the best possible outcome for their quarterback.
Miami Dolphins Pitched Adding Brandin Cooks
One veteran who remains available and fits the mold of a player who could be obtained for the veteran minimum is Brandin Cooks. While Cooks has never played for the veteran minimum, his previous free agent contract was a two-year, $13 million contract with the Saints; however, he was released during the first season of his contract. Cooks would then sign with the Buffalo Bills on a veteran minimum deal, where he played during the 2025 season.
The Sun-Sentinel’s Chris Perkins floated the idea of Miami adding Cooks.Perkins wrote:
“Cooks, 32, is a 12-year veteran who had 24 receptions for 279 yards last season between time spent with New Orleans and Buffalo. Cooks hasn’t been in top form since 2023 when he had 54 receptions, 657 yards and eight touchdowns with Dallas. He cost $418,000 against the salary cap last season.”
Cooks would not be a long-term solution for the Dolphins, and he would become Miami’s oldest player on the roster. Despite this, his veteran leadership could help out some of Miami’s younger receivers, including the ones they will likely add during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Plans
New Dolphins head coachJeff Hafley did reveal that the team planned to address the position this offseason as he said, “He’s (Malik Willis) going to throw the ball to some good players,”Hafley told Kay Adams on the “Up & Adams.” “We’ve got, we’ve got a bunch of good guys coming back, a bunch of guys that we signed, and we’ve got a lot of draft picks, a lot of them.
“We’ve got seven in the first 100 picks. We’ll have receivers for Malik to throw to. The next time you talk after the draft and as we get the players here, I think you’re going to see we’ll get some good ones for him to throw to.“
As things currently stand, none of the Dolphins wide receivers on the roster surpassed 350 receiving yards last season. Fortunately for Miami quarterback Malik Willis, it does not seem that the room will look the same heading into the 2026 season.