Atwell signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with Miami in March after spending his first five seasons with Los Angeles, but the reunion in South Florida never took hold.
He had no catches in the preseason and little impact in training camp, with the Dolphins' crowded receiver room, headlined by rookies Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, pushing him further down the depth chart.
Both Sides
Atwell, a 2021 second-round pick, is well-versed in Sean McVay's offense after five years in the building and gives Los Angeles a depth option behind top targets Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, even if he isn't likely to see a heavy target share.
He posted 105 catches for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns across 64 games in his first stint with the team, including a 42-catch, 562-yard season in 2024. The trade also saves the Rams a bit of cap space, since Atwell's new deal is a fraction of the $10 million he played on last season.
Trade: Dolphins traded WR Tutu Atwell back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for RB Jarquez Hunter, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/S7jKSAlXCa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2026
Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round pick out of Auburn, played just five games as a rookie and never recorded an offensive snap, buried behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. He flashed in the preseason, however, breaking off a 68-yard, one-touchdown performance on 12 carries in his second exhibition outing, and now steps into a Dolphins backfield looking for depth behind De'Von Achane.
Where Both Players Fit
McVay praised Hunter's preseason showing before the trade, though he tied any real role to a bigger standard. "Trust," McVay said. "That's the big thing. I've got to be able to trust that you can play without the ball, protect the quarterback, know where you're going to be in protections."
🚨🚨TRADE 🚨🚨
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) August 27, 2026
The #Dolphins are trading WR Tutu Atwell to the #Rams in exchange for RB Jarquez Hunter pic.twitter.com/HeKBYTKlHx
