It seemed inevitable for a while, but finally, the Miami Dolphins bit the bullet on a complete teardown. From the general manager to the head coach, no one was safe on the sideline. Moreover, the roster is now undergoing a near-complete overhaul.
They now have a new quarterback at the helm, but the rest of the lineup needs more tweaks. It is likely going to be a long rebuild for the franchise, but the wide receiver room needs more help. One analyst believes that help arrives in the 2026 NFL Draft.
How the Miami Dolphins Can Replace Jaylen Waddle in the 2026 NFL Draft
Parting ways with Tua Tagovailoa was the tip of the iceberg, but it continued throughout. Tyreek Hill was also let go before the final nail in the coffin came in the form of trading Jaylen Waddle.
In return for the dynamic wide receiver and a fourth-round pick, the Dolphins got a first-round, third-round, and fourth-round pick. That gives them ample draft equity to kickstart the rebuild in a meaningful way.
They’re going to need all the help, particularly after signing the apple of everyone’s eye, Malik Willis. Jacob Infante of PFSN has a potential solution that Miami could adopt, as he believes the loss of Waddle is one they need to overcome.
Rather than immediately go after a skill position player, Infante has them bring in more help on the offensive line in his latest mock draft, adding Francis Mauigoa. Only then does he have them focus on a wide receiver.
With the pick they got back in exchange for Waddle, he believes they can add KC Concepcion from Texas A&M. “KC Concepcion is a dynamic receiver with tremendous YAC ability and impressive quickness, excelling as a route runner who shoots out of his breaks.”
The Aggies product spent two years at NC State before exploding in his junior year with 919 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025, finishing at No. 19 on PFSN’s College Football WR Impact.
However, he has some massive shoes to fill in Miami. A consistent producer at wideout, Waddle tallied 910 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns last year, even with the quarterback room being a mess, which led him to a 22nd-ranked finish on PFSN’s WR Impact.
“Throughout his stints at Texas A&M and NC State, he’s been a reliable underneath weapon with inside-outside versatility. His twitchiness underneath and speed-oriented game would give Miami a chance at finding a direct replacement for Waddle for much cheaper.”
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Ranked as the sixth-best wide receiver in the class by PFSN, Concepcion is a bit undersized. But his ability to be a ball hawk in traffic, along with his exceptional ability to rack up yards after the catch, makes him a dangerous threat on the field.
And with a young, new quarterback in Willis, he has the potential to form a long-term pair that could become the foundation of the new-look Dolphins.
