MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Malik Willis connected on a 40-yard touchdown during the Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp, threading a pass between two defenders to tight end Ben Sims. The completion was Willis’ longest in any open Dolphins practice this spring and drew praise from teammates for his arm strength and field vision.
Willis joined Miami this offseason as a free agent and is acclimating to a largely new set of teammates. Aside from limited crossover with center Aaron Brewer from their time with the Tennessee Titans, Willis has spent spring practices building rapport with a receiver corps that is still finding its identity.
First-year coach Jeff Hafley called the situation a work in progress, noting the team has had six practices with limited reps and that chemistry will require repetitions. Hafley added that the presence of many young wideouts entering the room means the group will need time in training camp and beyond before roles become clear.
The receivers room lacks the top-end star power from recent years after Miami released Tyreek Hill in February and traded Jaylen Waddle in March. The team signed Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell in free agency and used draft picks on Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, but no clear No. 1 emerged during OTAs or minicamp.
Hafley singled out third-year receiver Malik Washington, a carryover from the previous regime, for his catch-and-run ability and improvement as a route runner. Tolbert brings red-zone production, having caught 49 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, while Atwell has provided field-stretching plays and had 24.8 percent of his 105 receptions since 2022 go for at least 20 yards, the 19th-highest rate in that span. Hafley said Atwell has adjusted well to Miami this spring.
