Dolphins Draft Star WR to Replace Tyreek Hill, Waddle for Malik Willis in New Kiper, ESPN NFL Mock

After losing Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason, the Miami Dolphins are being projected to use a first-round pick on a wide receiver in ESPN's latest 2026 NFL mock draft.

The mock, which dropped Thursday, featured ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates making alternating picks. At No. 11 overall, Reid had the Dolphins selecting Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate.

Taking Tate would give quarterback and free-agent acquisition Malik Willis the No. 1 receiver he desperately needs after the Dolphins released Hill and traded Waddle to the Denver Broncos.

Coming off a 7-10 season that saw them miss the playoffs for a second straight year, the Dolphins made some sweeping changes at key spots, including head coach and general manager.

The changes trickled down to the roster as well with the Dolphins cutting Hill after he was limited to four games last season due to a torn ACL, and trading Waddle and a fourth-round pick to the Broncos for a first-, third- and fourth-round pick.

Miami also made a change under center, releasing longtime starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and replacing him with Willis.

Willis signed with the Dolphins before the Waddle trade was made, meaning he quickly went from having a clear No. 1 target in the passing game to having essentially an empty cupboard at receiver.

As of now, Miami's receiver room consists of free-agent signings Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, 2024 sixth-round pick Malik Washington, 2024 seventh-round pick Tahj Washington, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Theo Wease Jr.

Among them, Atwell and Tolbert are the most accomplished NFL receivers. Atwell has 105 catches for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns in his career, while Tolbert has 91 catches for 1,093 yards and 10 scores.

In Tate, the Dolphins would be getting a receiver who was highly productive at the collegiate level despite being part of a stacked wide receiver room at OSU.

After limited production as a freshman, Tate recorded 52 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, as the Buckeyes won the national championship.

Then, last season, Tate finished with 51 grabs for a career-high 875 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tate ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, so while he isn't as explosive as Hill or Waddle, he is a different type of receiver who brings significantly more size to the table at 6'2" and 192 pounds.

There is perhaps no team in the NFL with a greater need at receiver than the Dolphins, so if the opportunity arises to select a wideout of Tate's caliber at No. 11 overall, it will be somewhat surprising if Miami doesn't jump at it.