The Miami Dolphins will be one of the more fascinating teams to watch throughout the upcoming NFL Draft.
After signing Malik Willis, landing the prize quarterback of free agency, the Dolphins shortly thereafter dealt playmaking wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, in exchange for a package that included an additional first-round pick in this spring’s draft.
Over at NFL Media, analyst Chad Reuter suggests the Dolphins could plug the hole in Willis’ supporting cast, by selecting Ohio State standout Carnell Tate with the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
“The Dolphins have revamped their receiver room this offseason,” Reuter explains. “Parting ways withTyreek Hill" data-link="/players/tyreek-hill/" data-slug="tyreek-hill">Tyreek Hill(released) andJaylen Waddle" data-link="/players/jaylen-waddle/" data-slug="jaylen-waddle">Jaylen Waddle(traded to Denver) while signingTutu Atwell" data-link="/players/tutu-atwell/" data-slug="tutu-atwell">Tutu AtwellandJalen Tolbert" data-link="/players/jalen-tolbert/" data-slug="jalen-tolbert">Jalen Tolbert. Tate is the sort of polished pass catcher new quarterbackMalik Willis" data-link="/players/malik-willis/" data-slug="malik-willis">Malik Willisneeds to have in order to succeed in his first season in Miami.”
NFL Draft 2026: Why Carnell Tate makes sense for the Dolphins
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a catch for a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tate could be the ideal weapon to begin rebuilding the Dolphins’ offense, around Willis this season, and whoever Miami might choose to select at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft class.
The 6-foot-3 and 195-pound Tate could be a prototypical No. 1 wide receiver at the NFL level, thanks to being the rare combination of a big-bodied target for his quarterback with game-altering speed, as illustrated by his 14.8-yard average depth of target last season, at Ohio State.
“Tate has everything you want in a wide receiver,” an AFC Front Office Executive recently told Between The Hashmarks. “He’s No. 1 in the class, and he has durability on top of everything else.”
By pairing Tate’s elite physical profile with Malik Willis’ arm talent, the Dolphins would be laying a high-octane foundation for their post-Tyreek Hill era.
Securing a “true” number-one receiver of this caliber doesn’t just fill a roster hole … it provides the explosive, reliable target necessary to ensure their massive offseason investments at quarterback and beyond actually pay off.
NFL Draft
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.