Jalen Tolbert: Everything you need to know

Tolbert is facing added competition for snaps, routes and targets after the Dolphins selected three rookie wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft, Matt Sullivan of The Sporting News reports. Miami's main free-agent additions to the wide receiver corps after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos and cutting Tyreek Hill (ACL) were Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, who joined incumbent 2024 sixth-round pick Malik Washington atop a wide open depth chart. Those veterans being joined by rookie third-round picks Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell (ACL), as well as fifth-rounder Kevin Coleman, now muddles the breakdown of available targets, especially in what seems like a run-first offense headlined by RB De'Von Achane and new dual-threat QB Malik Willis. Tolbert still figures to get every opportunity to compete for a starting role this offseason, but he and Atwell signed just one-year prove-it deals with Miami, so the team has greater incentive to develop Douglas, Bell and Coleman.

Tolbert is slated to sign a one-year contract with the Dolphins, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports. Tolbert reportedly has a close relationship with new Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis, which may have played a role in the former Dallas wide receiver's decision to sign with Miami. Across four regular seasons with the Cowboys, Tolbert recorded 1,093 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Most of that production came in 2024, when Tolbert posted 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Miami's wide receiver depth chart is up in the air behind Jaylen Waddle (ribs).

Tolbert caught 18 of 34 targets for 203 yards and a touchdown over 13 games in 2025. After a career-best campaign in 2024, Tolbert headed into the season third on the depth chart at wide receiver for the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The 2022 third-round pick fell out of favor after the first month of the season, however, and he was passed in the pecking order for snaps and targets by Ryan Flournoy. Tolbert is a free agent this offseason, and even with Pickens not guaranteed to return, it seems unlikely he'll be re-signed by Dallas.