The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins have undergone a roster shakeup this offseason, resetting their salary cap and moving on from several veteran players as they turn to younger players in the rebuild. One of the biggest changeovers has happened in the wide receiver group, where Tyreek Hill was released and Jaylen Waddle was traded. Miami heads into 2026 without its top two receiving options from the last five years.
Wide receiver has been a deliberate area of concentration for the front office throughout the offseason as they look to replace the production of Hill and Waddle. They have added several free agents, selected three players in the 2026 NFL Draft, and added an undrafted free agent after the Draft. But, it could be a returning player who proves to be the top wide receiver in the group.
Name: Malik Washington
Number: 6
Position: Wide receiver
Height / Weight: 5’8” / 195 pounds
Age (at start of season): 25
Experience: 3rd year
College: Virginia (transfer from Northwestern)
Draft: 2024 6th round (184th overall)
Acquired: 2024 NFL Draft
Contract: 4-years, $4.2 million
2026 salary cap: $1.1 million
Contract details via OverTheCap.com.
Games played: 17 (6 starts)
Receptions: 46
Receiving yards: 317
Touchdowns: 3
Rushing attempts: 17
Rushing yards: 110
Touchdowns: 1
Punt returns: 20
Yards per return average: 13.0
Long return: 74
Touchdowns: 1
Kick returns: 36
Yards per return average: 26.8
Long return: 47
Washington’s role in the Mike McDaniel offense was as the emergency option, likely at or behind the line of scrimmage, hoping to use his speed to find space after Hill and Waddle pulled the defense deep. He was the third receiver on the depth chart, and was often behind the running backs and tight ends when all receiving options were considered, but when needed, Washington was a solid option for quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers. He was an option on end arounds and coming out of the backfield in McDaniel’s offense, using motion and formations to try to create mismatches.
Washington also served as a primary return option for the Dolphins, working on both punt and kick returns. He scored one touchdown on a punt return.
Wide receiver signings: Tutu Atwell, Donaven McCulley (UDFA), Terrace Marshall, Jr., Jalen Reagor, Jalen Tolbert
Released: Tyreek Hill
Trade: Jaylen Waddle to Broncos
Drafted: Caleb Douglas (3rd round), Chris Bell (3rd round), Kevin Coleman, Jr. (5th round)
There are obviously a lot of questions to be answered this summer as the team heads into training camp and the preseason, but how the wide receiver group shakes out may be one of the biggest. Washington could emerge as the top receiver in the group, despite his size. He will battle veterans Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert for targets while trying to hold off a surge to the front by any of the rookies.
Is Washington ready for an expanded role in the offense? Earlier this month,...
