The Dallas Cowboys were one of the NFL’s top offenses last season but Jalen Tolbert never showed up to the party. The fourth-year receiver had some momentum after catching 49 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 but he had one of the most disappointing campaigns of his career in 2025, catching 18 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.
After being replaced by George Pickens as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver, Tolbert’s departure was writing on the wall as last season came to a close. Signing with the Miami Dolphins also looks like a great opportunity after the team traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. But the grass may not be greener in Miami as Tolbert looks to revive his career in 2026.
Jalen Tolbert’s Opportunity with Dolphins Could Be Short-Lived
There were several reasons why Tolbert could see the Dolphins as a better situation than the one he had in Dallas. After trading Waddle, Tolbert is listed in a starting role along with Tutu Atwell and Malik Washington and with very little NFL experience at the position along with an uninspiring tight end room, there should be plenty of targets to go around.
Tolbert also has a strong relationship with quarterback Malik Willis. The two were teammates during the Senior Bowl during the build to the 2022 draft and both players chased the opportunity in Miami, with Willis signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract and Tolbert signing a one-year, $1.4 million contract this offseason.
With money in his bank account and a key role in the offense, Miami should look pretty good to Tolbert. But it’s also mired in a situation where he may not fit into their long-term plans.
The Dolphins have entered a full rebuild after hiring Jeff Hafley to replace Mike McDaniel and the formula feels like they’re more concerned about 2027 than the upcoming season. While Willis is the starting quarterback now, he may cede his role to a rookie in a stronger draft class than the one Miami will be selecting from later this month and they could look to keep adding talent to improve the infrastructure for the young quarterback.
This could bring competition to Tolbert in a draft where Miami is currently scheduled to have 11 picks including seven in the first three rounds. It’s also questionable whether Tolbert would be able to win such a competition after the Cowboys made him a healthy scratch multiple times down the stretch in favor of KaVontae Turpin and Jonathan Mingo last season.
If Tolbert can thrive, he could be in for a bigger contract, whether it’s in Miami or somewhere else. But on a team that will likely be playing most of its games with garbage time, the Dolphins may not be the soft landing spot he’s hoping for and could be another dead end for the former Cowboy.