With the trade of veteran and top wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to Denver, attention nationally immediately shifted on what the Miami Dolphins should do in this year’s NFL Draft to wide receiver.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had a change to his mock draft within an hour, putting Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson to the Dolphins at pick 11, a reach and not too in-tune with the new front office from our perspective.

But same went for social media as Makai Lemon fans started popping up left and right, as did plenty who argued against picking him.

History suggests a former Packers prodigy like general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will not go receiver early and if that’s the case, this year that is just fine. Day 2 is by far the most value-oriented part of the draft at wide receiver, even well into round three.

This is part six in an 11-part Aqua & Coral Report series breaking down potential Dolphins draftees by position, as well as a ranking of the preferred prospects at each spot.

DOLPHINS NEED IT ALL

The Dolphins needed an X receiver before moving Waddle — now they need a Z too. Regardless, they can find both this year. Via Packers history, it’s possibly Sullivan may not be as concerned with a receiver being big as he is with them not being small.

Over the last five years, Green Bay selected nine wide receivers overall. The shortest was 5-10 Amari Rodgers in 2021, but only two others (both 5-11) came in under 6-1 and ranged from there to 6-4 Christian Watson and Savion Williams.

For the Lemon fans out there — he’s not on the list here for a number of reasons, but the one that makes the most sense is it just doesn’t seem like a move that would be in Sullivan’s DNA to draft a power slot with his first-ever pick. Have a hunch he’ll be picking defense, if its not protection for his newly-signed QB..

Nevertheless, below are the top options for Miami at wide receiver in our estimation. It’s a good class and it will be interesting to see the direction they take. Hunch here is it will be on Day 2.

2026 ACR Dolphins Draft Guide bios included. (⭐denotes favorite players respective of projected draft range)

1. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

6-2 ¼, 198; great hands and a huge catch radius++; zero drops in 2025; smooth, effortless runner; detailed route runner; combining attention to detail via routes and what looks like good speed; can get behind people for long plays but isn’t fantastic after the catch; aggressive in the air on 1 on 1 balls; will go up and get a ball in traffic; can throw shake at a defender at full speed, part of why he’s so open at times on deep routes; could probably stand to get a little stronger; ready-to-go starting WR; 4.52 at combine was not good but a) he ran, which means he competes and b) he averaged 17.2 ypc last year and 15.5 for his career, so not a concern; could make him available to Miami though; huge 10 ¼-inch hands (R1)

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2. WR Denzel Boston, Washington

Every time I turned on Washington in 2025, he was making plays; big at 6-3 5/8, 212 with 9 ¾-inch hands+ ; 62 receptions for 881 yards (14.2) and 11 TDs in ’25; four drops in four years at Washington++; good burst out of his cuts; huge catch radius; quarterback friendly; he is fluid enough at his size to play inside or outside; speed is not high end, concern is it will be low end at combine (he chose not to run); posted a 35-inch vertical; has the occasional drop; NFL ready frame and probably an NFL ready player whose draft position is really going to be tied to 40 (or NextGen speed) because the tape is good, as is the pedigree; be a good fit in Miami, but probably greater needs unless he slides (R2) 

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3. WR K.C. Concepcion, TAMU

Texas A&M via NC State; decent size (5-11½ , 196) and speed (guessing 4.5 based on tape, did not test at combine); returns punts; finds top gear almost instantly which is his superpower; throws shake at a defender at full speed and runs real good routes; seems to find gaps in zones and has the ability to get separation; runs with an RB’s lean; feet are super quick and he’s a battler with the ball in his hands, despite size; wins contested balls by getting throwing his hands at them, if that makes sense; very soft hands; feet seem to never stop; gonna be a real good NFL slot and return man; tough kid, football player; ran gauntlet better than anybody at combine; personal history makes you want to pull for him too, imagine he’s a great teammate; had a minor procedure on his knee mid-March; was the subject of conversation because he has a speech impediment, and he handled it with class (R2) 

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4. ⭐ WR Ja’Kobi Lane, USC

6-4, 200+++; looks wirey but his game is probably a better match for MIA than his teammate’s (Lemon); tall but still goes higher up the ladder on contested balls++; huge catch radius; if he can get off the line as a pro he’ll be tough to defend on outs; isn’t particularly speedy but does run well and can find his way through traffic for extra yards; big hands, long arms is what shows up on tape; uses his hands well to create separation from the DB when the ball arrives; has the traits you’d want in an X opposite Waddle, or at least in short yardage/red zone situation; not going to break a lot of tackles; has great hands; 32 5/8-inch arms; I like the guy, underrated; killed the combine – 4.47 40-yard dash with a 40-inch vertical will spell trouble for corners (R2-R3)

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5. WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

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6. WR Skyler Bell, Connecticut

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7. ⭐ WR Bryce Lance, NDSU

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8. WR Chris Bell, Louisville

Physically stacked at 6-2, 220; 72 rec., 917 yards and 6 TDs in a truncated ’25 season because he tore his ACL against SMU on Nov 22; does not have elite burst but can take a quick slant and nobody ends up catching him, so long speed when healthy is great; he just isn’t as nimble in short spaces; won’t have issues getting off the LOS and will likely be a good blocker+; Louisville used him as their possession receiver, a lot of short passes went his way, as well as the long ones; curious if NFL teams suggest he drop 10 pounds because size isn’t really resulting in broken tackles after the catch, though he’s very willing and does get YAC through sheer effort; 10 less pounds might help him get up to speed quicker; rubs me as a very reliable WR2 at next level, possibly more if he comes back healthy; good hands (measured large at combine – 10 inches) but he doesn’t play above the rim so to speak, so not sure his catch radius; real thick lower half for a WR; not into taking injured players but a third-round flyer on this guy could pay serious dividends if he returns with a clean bill of health; would have been in the conversation for R1 in this draft were it not for injury (R3)

9. WR Skyler Bell, UConn

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10. WR Germie Bernard, Alabama

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11. WR J. Michael Sturdivant, UF

Big and was able to get downfield in an offense that struggled much of ’25; 6-3, 207, also played at UCLA and Cal; has good hands and runs pretty well but is not as physical as you’d like at that size; don’t know what his 40 time or 10-yard split will be because his burst seems average, but he’s fast and a bit of a gilder once he gets going and does beat people deep; definitely shows separation speed at the top of routes; career: 150 receptions, 2,052 yards (13.8 avg.) and 16 touchdowns; had 65 catches his freshman year at Cal; short area quickness not as good as long speed; has potential to be a starter if he can become a more detailed route runner because it would magnify his speed; hands are pretty good but he’s had concentration drops;; combine results – 4.40 40-yard dash (elite for his size) with a 1.54 split; 39-inch vertical with a 10-11 broad jump projects explosiveness and lower-body strength; almost 33-inch arms; UF offense may have actually hurt his draft stock, higher on him than most people it seems (R5)

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12. WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas

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13. WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky

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14. WR Josh Cameron, Baylor

Thick 6-1 ½, 220-pound receiver who plays bigger than his height; listed at 224 pounds; thick lower half for a receiver; seems like he gets it in terms of route running, but could stand to get more refined; posted catches for yards and TDs in ’25; between his size and a nice stutter step, he won’t have trouble getting off the line; really is pretty nifty with some of the moves he uses to get open, a lot of stutter-and-go but it’s nice; kind of a lanky or long strider but seems to run pretty well and battles for extra yards after contact; play him at X or as a big slot; he’s not going to take the top off a defense, but could be a solid player and capable blocking receiver; sluggish 40 time may be a problem (4.65) and definitely dropped him here; his hands are huge (10 ¼-inches) and he has long arms (33 1/8-inch); probably best in the slot to utilize him blocking (R6)

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16. WR Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati

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17. WR Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State

6-2, 190; posted 83 catches for 1,141 yards and 19 TDs; good body control in the air; uses size well and wins 50-50s; good hands; shows up quickly he’s a crisp route runner; really smart player, is deceptive with his head both to get open and to behave toward a DB as if a pass is not on the way; don’t know how fast he is and he doesn’t have a ton of burst, but he’s definitely quick and crafty as hell; 37 ½-inch vertical with a 10-1 broad jump (R7)

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18. WR Vinny Anthony, Wisconsin

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NOTABLE WIDE RECEIVER DNWs

WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: best looking receiver to me in the draft but wouldn’t take him as high as projected due to injury hx; big at 6-2, 200; crisp route runner; quick for his size; good hands and natural ability as a pass catcher (over the shoulder vs. NAU was special); clearly gets the nuances of getting open, particularly in showing DBs one thing with his head/eyes and doing another; no issues getting separation; can still come up with plays after hand fighting; can’t take him at expected draft range with his injury history; tore up knee in 2022 and had hamstring issues last year; on tape, guy whose most recent injury was soft tissue has no reason not to test and prove his stock; if he has a healthy career, he will have a productive one; best package of skills, save the knee; if he slides, would consider (R1/DNW)

WR Makai Lemon, USC: 5-11, 195; has a lot of Wes Welker to him; good in traffic; runs hard for guy his size; makes a bunch a catches it seems like he shouldn’t; is not super explosive or fast and doesn’t play ‘above the rim’ really; good shake and a good route runner; body control in the air on contested balls is exceptional; willing blocker; plays like a guy who loves ball+; super sticky hands; can use in returns; will be limited somewhat by speed in the NFL; already maximizes what he has, so floor is pretty high but ceiling isn’t too much higher; as an outsider, his media session was also a little concerning; reports suggest up to four teams removed Lemon from their draft boards entirely due to his demeanor and attitude during interviews; admittedly in the minority, but not a huge fan when considering the entire package, especially for a team focused on ‘locker room’ (R1/DNW)

WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana (R1-R2/DNW)

WR Chris Brazell II, Tennessee 3.6 RAC, worst in the 2026 class (R2/DNW)

WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia (R2/DNW)

WR Antonio Williams, Clemson (R3/DNW)

WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (R3/DNW)

WR Brenan Thompson, Miss. State (R5/DNW) 

WR Jalen Walthall, Incarnate Word (R6/DNW) 

WR Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech (R6/DNW) 

WR Malik Benson, Oregon (R6/DNW)

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THE SCHEDULE

• Mon., Mar. 9 — Part 1, Cornerbacks
• Thu. Mar. 12 — Part 2, Interior Offensive Line
• Tues. Mar. 17 — Part 3, Tight Ends
• Thu. Mar 19 — Part 4, Edge rushers
• Mon. Mar. 23 — Part 5, Linebackers
• Today — Part 6, Wide Receivers
• Thu. Mar. 26 — Part 7, Defensive Tackles
• Tues. Mar. 31 — Part 8, Quarterbacks
• Thu. Apr. 2 — Part 9, Running Backs
• Tues. Apr. 6 — Part 10, Offensive Tackles
• Thu. Apr. 8 — Part 11, Safeties

DNW = Do Not Want (Examples: a) Jermod McCoy is a DNW in the first round, but would gladly select him in the second. He’s still a DNW because he isn’t expected to make it to round 2. B) Other times, there are straight DNWs based on things like character (e.g. James Pearce last year) or just a bad overall fit)

(Full bios on all players listed will be available on all players in the ’26 ACR Dolphins Draft Guide).