When the Miami Dolphins selected Ryan Tannehill with the 8th overall pick in 2012, they waited until the 6th and 7th rounds to add receivers.

And it wasn't until two years later that Miami invested heavily at receiver in the draft, hitting on Jarvis Landry in the second round.

For years, Dolphins observers would cite not only who was blocking for Tannehill, but also who he was throwing to, in an effort to defend subpar performances.

When the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa with the 5th overall pick in 2020, they selected no receivers, and then added Jaylen Waddle, a key target, in 2021.

Early on, observers would cite not only who was blocking for Tua, but also who he was throwing to, in an effort to defend subpart performances.

In essence, the Dolphins' quarterback draft pick in 2026 is projected starter Malik Willis, the 26-year-old signed as a free agent from the Green Bay Packers.

The Dolphins have traded away Waddle and cut Tyreek Hill.

Does general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and the franchise that signed Willis, now owe it to him to add one or two top-flight receiving targets in the upcoming NFL Draft?

Yes. And no. It's tricky. And we'll explain.

"It's my job, it's our job to put more substance in that room as we move forward," Sullivan said at the NFL annual meetings. "Everybody understands that. We have to surround Malik with good football players. We have to protect him up front. We have to give him playmakers around them. We got 11 picks, and you're like, I wish we had 20. We don't. We got 11 picks. You can't fix it all in one shot. But we're going to take the best player available. We'll see what the draft brings. We'll follow the board."

So, yes, the Dolphins seem likely to add at least one receiver with at least one of the seven picks in the first three rounds, which will be held Thursday and Friday, April 23 and April 24.

But Sullivan will not feel a need to force it. The Packers, his former employer, had a decent track record of selecting receivers outside the first round.

"I think it's a really good wide receiver draft," Sullivan said t. "I think obviously there's some very, very good players up top. You guys know who they are. But I think there's depth and substance to it in the second, third, fourth round."

Sullivan spoke with Willis about the plan before trading Waddle. It was a sign of respect, not an indication that he plans to run all transactions by Willis or any other player.

But here's the key: Sullivan is not the type to reach.

If Carnell Tate somehow slides to No. 11, will Miami consider it? Well, yeah, of course. Would Makai Lemon or Jordyn Tyson be a consideration? Perhaps.

If KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston or Omar Cooper slides to No. 30, will Miami consider it? Well, yeah, of course.

That is, after all, the 30th pick acquired in the Waddle trade.

But Sullivan does not seem the type to reach, or force it.

In looking at Miami's wide receiver room, the players with the most career catches at the moment are: Tutu Atwell (105), Jalen Tolbert (91), Malik Washington (72) and Terrace Marshall (67).