Updated Aug. 27, 2026, 3:24 p.m. ET
Just days ahead of the final NFL preseason game and with Week 1 of the 2026 season just around the corner, the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams decided to shake things up on the offensive side of the ball. The two teams struck a trade that will send wide receiver Tutu Atwell to the Rams in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The deal reunites Atwell with his former team, where he spent the first five years of his NFL career. It’s an interesting move for several reasons, especially given that Atwell signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins this offseason. Over his five seasons with the Rams, Atwell played in 64 games, totaling 105 receptions for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns.
His best seasons came in 2023 and 2024, when he posted marks of 39/483/3 and 42/562. Trade grades for Dolphins-Rams deal sending Tutu Atwell back to Los Angeles Rams: A The Rams gave up a player in Hunter, whom they spent a fourth-round pick on in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Hunter was active in five games last season, and this preseason had tallied 12 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Given that the Rams have Kyren Williams, Black Corum and Ronnie Rivers ahead of him on the depth chart, this was a move that makes plenty of sense for Los Angeles.
Tack on that, this brings back a familiar face for quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense, and it’s hard not to like the move on their side. At least on the surface, Sean McVay and company should be thrilled to welcome back Atwell. Dolphins: D This move for the Dolphins is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Considering they aren’t loaded at wide receiver, keeping Atwell would have made far more sense. The Dolphins are set to start Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and Caleb Douglas, with other names including Chris Bell, Kevin Coleman Jr., Terrace Marshall Jr., Jalen Reagor and Ryan Miller.
The Dolphins also have De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright and second-year running back Ollie Gordon on the roster. Unless there’s some significant shift coming at running back for Miami, it’s hard to understand their reasoning behind trading away a player like Atwell, who could stretch the field and has the upside to be a consistent option in the passing game. Ultimately, the Dolphins avoid this falling to an “F” largely due to their young wideouts and the intrigue surrounding them. It could be that they wanted to give more playing time to a new face or two at the position, but acquiring a running back for Atwell is still more than a bit confusing.
