The home of the Miami Grand Prix just got a little more speed. The Dolphins have signed wide receiver and Miami native Tutu Atwell. Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, Atwell was a local prep star before a career at Louisville that made him a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Now, he'll play his home games at the same venue he visited as a kid, Hard Rock Stadium.
Here are the fast facts on another speedy Miami Dolphin.
1. Raise the roof
When it comes to taking the roof off the defense, sub-4.40 speed will certainly do the trick. Atwell is one of the game's most explosive weapons. He's caught passes of 88, 62, 54 and 50 yards over the last two seasons. He wore many hats for the Rams offense. Whether he was a heavily targeted option in the passing game, or using his speed to lift coverage and open up space, Atwell is all gas, all the time.
"I love the person, getting to know him, and I think that he's only getting better," Rams Head Coach Sean McVay said last April. "I thought he really improved his route detail. For a smaller guy, he's got a good catch radius. He catches the ball outside of his frame really well. He's an explosive player that people know about, so he creates separation."
That 88-yard touchdown broke a 20-20 tie with 1:42 remaining in the Rams' dramatic win over the Colts last September.
Despite averaging 9.3 yards per target, Atwell caught nearly 70 percent of the passes thrown his way in 2024, his highest receiving volume season of his career. He caught 42 passes for 562 yards that season with a 59.7 percent success rate.
2. For the hometown
A star quarterback at Miami Northwestern, Atwell wore the No. 5 to honor fellow Miami native Teddy Bridgewater. Like Bridgewater, Atwell played his college ball at Louisville where he later switched to wide receiver. Despite living all the way across the country in Los Angeles the last five years, Atwell returned to South Florida every summer to host a youth camp. Through his foundation, the Tutu Atwell Jr. Foundation, Atwell continues to make an impact on his community.
3. Man on the move
Atwell's speed also provides value before the snap. In 2024, 31 of his targets came on plays in which he went in pre-snap motion. That's not necessarily an Atwell-exclusive stat. Puka Nacua led the NFL that season with 50 targets on plays in motion. Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik has talked about the benefits of motion in the past and the indicators it provides for the quarterbacks in terms of reading the defense. With Atwell, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane at the ready, Slowik has options to tinker with pre-snap.
For more analysis and insight on the Dolphins new acquisitions, download the Drive Time podcast with Travis Wingfield.
