The Miami Dolphins addressed the wide receiver position in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Caleb Douglas 75th overall. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Florida and the final two at Texas Tech. Douglas enjoyed a strong redshirt junior campaign, finishing as the team’s leading receiver with 54 receptions for 846 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns across 14 games. He also posted seven drops, gained 292 yards after the catch, went 6-for-17 on contested catches, and 11-for-28 for 392 yards and four touchdowns on passes over 20 yards.
Douglas is an X receiver thanks to his 6-foot-3 1/2 and 206-pound frame, making him an ideal red-zone and goal-line threat. However, he posted an 8.2% drop rate, had a subpar 37% contested-catch rate, and isn’t a polished route runner. He will compete against Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert for a starting spot and the top receiver role.
The Dolphins ink a rookie receiver with a 4-year contract
Miami Dolphins, Caleb Douglas
Oct 25, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
The Dolphins announced on Tuesday that they have signed Caleb Douglas to a four-year rookie contract. Spotracprojects his deal to be worth $7.168 million with a $1.673 million signing bonus, prorated at $418,361 per year. In addition, they project Douglas’s cap hits to be $1.303 million in 2026, $1.629 million in 2027, $1.955 million in 2028, and $2.28 million in 2029.
Lance Zierlein
Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL Network Draft media analyst Lance Zierlein during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“Douglas is a long, slender outside target with good production but uneven tape. He has enticing moments, showcasing his catch radius/ball skills on fades and deep throws. Douglas’ focus drops and an inability to win contested catches at a high enough rate can’t be overlooked, though. He shows quick acceleration for a tall receiver, but his top-end speed is relatively non-threatening to defenses. Douglas can expect to be crowded by NFL cornerbacks and forced to prove he can uncover. There are flashes to build on, but he’ll have to battle to make a roster as a backup.”
He projects as an average backup.