Rams trade for Atwell, send Hunter to Dolphins

The Los Angeles Rams acquired wide receiver Tutu Atwell from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter, according to reporting first by ESPN and carried by the Los Angeles Times via Yahoo Sports. Atwell, a 2021 second-round Rams draft pick, returns to the team that originally selected him. The 26-year-old receiver was sidelined much of his rookie season with a shoulder injury and has never established consistent playing time in Los Angeles. In 2024, he caught a career-best 42 passes for 562 yards. This season, with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams commanding the majority of targets, Atwell caught six passes for 192 yards before the trade, though he did score an 88-yard touchdown pass against Indianapolis in September. Hunter, a 24-year-old running back and 2025 fourth-round pick from Auburn, played in five games as a rookie for Los Angeles, all on special teams. The Rams' running back room is crowded with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers, also a special teams contributor, making Hunter a depth piece. Before the 2025 season, the Rams signed Atwell to a one-year, $10 million contract. In March, Atwell signed with the Dolphins to a one-year, $1.4 million deal, per Sportrac.com. The Rams' receiver corps also includes Nacua, Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, rookie CJ Daniels, and Xavier Smith, the previous punt returner. The Rams have never found a consistent way to deploy Atwell's speed. His history of underutilization across three seasons, including a rookie year spent mostly on special teams, raises questions about whether a change of venue resolves the underlying alignment issues.