ESPN ranks Dolphins playmakers worst in NFL

De’Von Achane of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by Jason Pierre-Paul of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We’re officially smack dab in the doldrums of summer when it comes to the National Football League. Free agency has slowed to a crawl, the NFL Draft has come and gone, and teams are on break until late next month when training camps open around the league. With little news to report, media outlets are scrambling to churn out content, which means lists and rankings are hitting the internet on the daily.

Today’s list comes from Bill Barnwell of ESPN. He’s ranking all 32 skill position groups (running backs, tight ends and wide receivers) to see which teams have the best playmakers surrounding their quarterbacks. Unfortunately for Miami‘s new signal-caller, Malik Willis, Barnwell thinks the Dolphins have the worst skill position players in the entire league.

“Unfortunately, this might be the worst receiving corps I’ve seen assembled on purpose by an NFL team in recent memory. Third and fourth wideouts such as Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell are the veterans being forced into starting roles. Third-round picks Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas — who might be fourth or fifth wideouts in other lineups — are going to be pushed into the lineup by midseason. I’m a little excited about Greg Dulcich , who was second in the NFL in yards per route run among tight ends from Week 9 onward last season, but he’ll need to be prime Travis Kelce to make this group of receivers work.”

“Unfortunately, this might be the worst receiving corps I’ve seen assembled on purpose by an NFL team in recent memory. Third and fourth wideouts such as Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell are the veterans being forced into starting roles. Third-round picks Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas — who might be fourth or fifth wideouts in other lineups — are going to be pushed into the lineup by midseason. I’m a little excited about Greg Dulcich , who was second in the NFL in yards per route run among tight ends from Week 9 onward last season, but he’ll need to be prime Travis Kelce to make this group of receivers work.”

Yikes. It seems harsh, but in all honesty, Barnwell is being realistic. It’s hard to get excited about what Miami will trot out at wide receiver, unless one or two of the rookies surprise in a major way.

While Miami’s pass catchers are suspect, Barnwell does give running back De’Von Achane his flowers.

“De’Von Achane is the last one standing from the group that ranked among the best in the NFL two years ago. Achane is a legitimately great back, capable of both patiently getting what’s blocked and producing spectacularly explosive big plays if given any sort of open space. I worry he won’t see much of that playing within the structure of this offense in 2026, but we’re evaluating the fourth-year pro independent of the players around him.”

“De’Von Achane is the last one standing from the group that ranked among the best in the NFL two years ago. Achane is a legitimately great back, capable of both patiently getting what’s blocked and producing spectacularly explosive big plays if given any sort of open space. I worry he won’t see much of that playing within the structure of this offense in 2026, but we’re evaluating the fourth-year pro independent of the players around him.”

It’s going to be a tough year in South Florida regarding this once proud franchise. Hopefully, despite the lack of significant weapons, the organization is able to get a solid read on whether or not Willis is the quarterback to build around moving foward, because if this season goes as poorly as many are predicting, Miami will be picking high enough in the draft to replace him with a standout collegiate passer once the 2027 NFL Draft arrives… if they need to.