Why Dolphins are trading away Tutu Atwell to Rams despite weak WR room

The Miami Dolphins are heading into the 2026 season in full-scale rebuild mode. They're not meant to contend this season, and more likely than not, they're going to wind up with a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With that pick, a quarterback would be nice, but the biggest issue right now appears to be the wide receiver room. It's a weak room, and that's even considering optimistic outlooks for rookies Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas. This team needs WR help.

So, why did the Dolphins make the trade that ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting? Why send WR Tutu Atwell to the Los Angeles Rams for a running back of all things? Well, the reason is quite simple: Atwell likely wasn't going to be involved in the offense.

Why Dolphins are trading Tutu Atwell to Rams despite weak WR room

"Trade: Dolphins traded WR Tutu Atwell back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for RB Jarquez Hunter, sources tell ESPN," Schefter reports.

The Dolphins should be adding wide receiver talent, not getting rid of it. They made a similar unexpected move when they cut ties with Tahj Washington recently, who's now with the Philadelphia Eagles.

But, despite the initial view of this trade being quite the odd one, there's a good reason for this move. Atwell wasn't actually going to have much involvement in the passing offense.

He didn't make a single catch during the preseason on three targets. His volume was already limited, and he didn't do enough with the chances he got either.

Besides, Miami looks poised now to enter 2026 with rookies Bell, Douglas, and Kevin Coleman Jr. alongside veterans Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington as the team's final WR room.

MORE: Dolphins have NFL’s worst WR, TE, Edge, CB and S rooms according to ESPN

The 2026 season isn't meant to be one where the Dolphins contend, and this WR room is a massive work in progress. It'd be nice to have more options, but Atwell would not provide much value to Miami, and it makes sense to move on from him.

But why for a running back? Looking at the Dolphins' running back depth chart, with De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Olli Gordon II, not to mention Donovan Edwards and a few others, Hunter's addition doesn't make a lot of sense.

With the Dolphins likely keeping Achane out of the preseason finale, and Gordon banged up, having Hunter for the last preseason game, and potentially as a fourth RB on the NFL roster, wouldn't be the worst thing,

Besides, it's hard to imagine the Dolphins could've gotten anything of significant value in return for Atwell, a veteran WR who didn't make a catch during the preseason despite needing to fight for a roster spot.

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