MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins agreed to acquire running back Jarquez Hunter from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for wide receiver Tutu Atwell, the team announced, pending physicals.
The deal sends a second-year back with a productive college résumé to South Florida while returning Atwell to the franchise that originally drafted him. Hunter, a fourth-round selection (117th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, appeared in five career games in one season with the Rams. At Auburn (2021-24), he appeared in 49 career games with 27 starts, recording 539 rushing attempts for 3,371 yards (6.3 avg.) and 25 touchdowns, along with 68 receptions for 558 yards (8.2 avg.) and four scores.
Atwell signed with Miami on March 13, 2026, after five seasons with the Rams. In 64 career games with 27 starts in Los Angeles (2021-25), he recorded 105 receptions for 1,535 yards (14.6 avg.) and five touchdowns, in addition to 16 carries for 72 yards (4.5 avg.) and one touchdown. He also appeared in four postseason games with the Rams.
Atwell entered the NFL as a second-round selection (57th overall) by the Rams in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Louisville, where he appeared in 34 games with 19 starts and recorded 139 receptions for 2,303 yards (16.6 avg.) and 21 touchdowns during three collegiate seasons (2018-20).
The trade reshapes the Dolphins’ backfield heading into the regular season, adding a runner whose college production at Auburn — averaging 6.3 yards per carry over four years — suggests upside beyond what his limited five-game NFL sample showed in Los Angeles. Both deals are pending physicals.