The Miami Dolphins are entering the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear need at wide receiver following a major offseason decision. A new PFSN mock draft projects the franchise addressing that void early by selecting a potential long-term replacement for Tyreek Hill.
Dolphins Predicted to Draft Carnell Tate as Tyreek Hill’s Successor
In PFSN’s latest three-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Miami selects Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 11 overall pick. The projection comes just weeks after the Dolphins released Hill in a cap-saving move that reshaped the offense.
Hill was released in February, a move reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that saved Miami $22.8 million against the salary cap. The eight-time Pro Bowler appeared in just four games during the 2025 season before suffering a dislocated knee and torn ACL in Week 4. He finished the year with 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. Miami ranked No. 19 in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric with a 73.0 score during a 7–10 season that led to the dismissal of head coach Mike McDaniel.
Over four seasons in Miami, Hill totaled 340 receptions for 4,733 yards and 27 touchdowns. His most productive campaign came in 2023, when he led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards and earned All-Pro honors. His departure leaves Jaylen Waddle as the only established top-tier receiving threat on the roster.
The mock draft suggests Tate could help fill that void. The Ohio State product recorded 14 touchdowns last season and is widely viewed as one of the top wide receivers in the 2026 class. While some evaluators question whether he can immediately function as a standalone WR1 at the NFL level, the projection pairs him with Waddle in what would become a new-look receiving tandem under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.
The quarterback situation in Miami also remains unsettled. Tua Tagovailoa struggled during the 2025 season and was benched with three games remaining. With the franchise reshaping its roster and already making significant cap-driven decisions, Tagovailoa’s time with the Dolphins is over.
The mock draft also notes that Miami’s defensive needs remain significant, particularly in the secondary, but also emphasizes the importance of sustaining offensive production. With Hill no longer in the picture and the Dolphins undergoing a broader roster overhaul, investing in a high-upside receiver could signal a reset around a younger core.
Tate’s size, ball-tracking ability, and red-zone production made him one of the most productive wideouts in college football, and his 14-touchdown season highlights his scoring upside. Selecting Tate would mark a clear pivot toward rebuilding the passing attack after the end of Hill’s tenure in Miami.
