Examining the Best Option if the Dolphins Go Wide Receiver at 11

The Miami Dolphins hold the number 11 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and for the first time in years the direction of the franchise feels wide open.

The departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle stripped the roster of its identity at wide receiver, while the exits of longtime general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel signaled a full organizational reset.

What remains is a new foundation centered around Malik Willis and a front office tasked with building an offense that actually fits him.

That makes number 11 more than just another first-round pick. It’s a decision that could define the next era of Dolphins football. If Miami stays put, there’s a chance that decision comes down to wide receivers Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson or Makai Lemon.

If the Dolphins do wind up taking a wide receiver with the 11th selection, here's a head-to-head comparison between Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon to examine and determine who's the best fit for Miami.

Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Carnell Tate might be the most polished wide receiver in the 2026 class, but his profile comes with context Miami can’t ignore.

Tate was never a high-volume target in college. Across 39 career games, he totaled 121 receptions — just over three catches per game — and never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a single season. Even this past year, when his role grew, he finished with 51 catches while teammate Jeremiah Smith led the way with 87 receptions.

Tate played alongside high-end talent at Ohio State, including first-round wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, which naturally limited his role as the focal point of the passing game.

That context matters, because it helps define what Tate is — and what he isn’t.

He wins with refinement. His route running is advanced, his understanding of leverage already is at an NFL level, and he consistently creates separation on intermediate routes like digs, comebacks, and outs. He’s efficient, reliable, and technically sound, making him one of the safest projections in the class.

But Miami isn’t just looking for safe.

The Dolphins are building around Willis, and Tate’s profile leans more toward structure and timing. He can stretch the field vertically, but he isn’t a major yards-after-catch threat, relying more on efficiency than explosiveness. Tate feels like a player who will be very good, a reliable and technically sound receiver who can step in and contribute early.

But at number 11, Miami isn’t just looking for reliability. They’re looking for a player who can help define what this offense becomes, and there are other receivers in this class who better fit that projection.

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

If Carnell Tate represents the safest option in this class, Jordyn Tyson is the swing.

Tyson brings size, physicality, and vertical playmaking ability. At his best, he looks like a true outside X receiver — someone who can win on the boundary and give Miami something it currently lacks.

He’s a natural downfield target. Tyson tracks the ball well, is relentless when it’s in the air, and consistently finishes through contact. His contested catch ability pairs well with Willis and he's got the ability to extend plays and attack outside of structure. That ability to win when plays break down is what makes Tyson so intriguing in this offense.

He also adds a physical presence in the red zone, where he can win above the rim and create opportunities in tight spaces. For a Dolphins team lacking size at receiver, that element stands out immediately.

But Tyson’s profile comes with real risk.

Durability is the concern. He missed the entire 2023 season after a complete ACL, MCL and PCL tear in 2022, and has also missed time throughout 2024 and 2025 with knee, collarbone, and hamstring injuries.

For Miami, that matters.

This is a team entering a new era that simply can’t afford to miss at number 11. The Dolphins need a player they can rely on week in and week out.

Tyson’s ceiling is clear.

But the risk may be too much.

Makai Lemon, USC

While the debate starts with Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon may be the player who makes the most sense for Miami.

Lemon brings a different kind of impact, one built on separation, quickness, and the ability to create instant offense. He’s an elite separator, creating immediate throwing windows with sharp, efficient movement. That ability shows up in the data as well.

Lemon posted 3-plus yards per route run against both man and zone coverage in college —something only a handful of recent receivers have done, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaylen Waddle, D'Wayne Eskridge, Ja'Marr Chase, and DeVonta Smith.

He also brings real versatility, logging 464 snaps in the slot and 226 out wide. That flexibility allows him to move across the formation, attack different coverages, and create mismatches rather than being limited to one role.

For Willis, that’s critical.

Lemon creates early separation, giving Willis quick, defined reads while still offering explosive potential after the catch. He’s a true yards-after-catch threat who can turn routine completions into chunk plays, whether it’s on crossers, screens, or broken plays. That ability to create outside of structure is what makes him stand out.

This is an offense that needs players who can generate production on their own, not just execute within the design. Lemon consistently creates space, creates yards, and manufactures opportunities when plays aren’t perfect.

He may not have the size of Tyson or the polish of Tate, but he offers the best blend of immediate impact and long-term fit.

At number 11, Miami doesn’t just need a receiver.

It needs an identity.

Lemon gives them one