In the past few weeks, the Miami Dolphins receiving corps has lost a Jaylen and picked up a Jalen.

No, it wouldn’t be fair to expect new free agent wide receiver Jalen Tolbert to make up for the production of former first-round pick Jaylen Waddle, who was traded to the Denver Broncos last week.

But Tolbert, as he comes over from the Dallas Cowboys, has been a capable pass-catcher in the league as a 6-foot-1 target who can stretch the field.

In 2024, he elevated himself to go for 610 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his third season as a third-round pick out of South Alabama.

The only problem was a dip occurred in a critical contract season for Tolbert. He had just 18 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown last season and even was a healthy scratch for the Cowboys in a few games.

Tolbert explained why the back-and-forth occurred in his first interview with media members who cover the Dolphins last week.

“I would say my success in 2024 was, honestly — the start of the season was kind of slower — but when Brandin Cooks went out — he was the 2 — I had about seven to eight games where I could really get touches, get targets, get involved more in the offense,” Tolbert said. “Obviously, Dak (Prescott) went down that year, as well, and I had built some chemistry with (Cooper Rush). Coop trusted me. CeeDee (Lamb) went down that year, so it was just a lot of stuff that kind of happened around me that put me in positions to be able to get more targets, get more opportunities, get more touches.”

By last season, the Cowboys acquired George Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his Pro Bowl season of 1,429 yards had a domino effect on Tolbert.

“This past season, not that I didn’t do the same stuff, I think we just added a piece in GP, who’s a great receiver. Obviously we have (tight end Jake Ferguson), who got paid, our top tight end, and so we had a lot of pieces on offense, between me, GP, CeeDee, (KaVontae Turpin), like it’s a lot of guys that want to get involved,” Tolbert said.

“We’re all competitors. Everybody wants to get involved. Everybody has a role. And so my role last season wasn’t touching the ball the whole time. That was more so (Lamb and Pickens’) role, and I was doing the dirty work and kind of just opening up and getting what I could get. I don’t think it was necessarily a dropoff like I lost anything. It’s just more so the opportunities weren’t coming my way. I had to try to make the most of the ones that did come my way, and it’s part of it.”

If it truly comes down to opportunity for Tolbert, there should be an abundance of it with the Dolphins.

Miami released Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine while trading away Waddle. Tolbert’s competition for wide receiver targets includes fellow free agent Tutu Atwell and returning wideouts Malik Washington, Tahj Washington and Theo Wease Jr. Of course, the Dolphins will surely bring in a wide receiver or two among their 11 picks in next month’s draft.

“I’m just looking forward to the new opportunity, fresh start to go and get back to that 2024 season and more and the guy that I was in college,” Tolbert said.

At 6-1, he has height on the Washingtons — Malik who figures to contribute in the slot — and Atwell. Wease and Terrace Marshall Jr., who will also vie for a roster spot, have something more similar to Tolbert’s catch radius.

Tolbert mentioned that as one of his strengths, along with body control and his ability to get downfield and high-point a catch.

The newcomer from Dallas admitted he was surprised when Waddle was traded a week after he was brought in.

“I could definitely say I was surprised,” Tolbert said. “We’re all competitors and, honestly, like I said, I’ve been in this league for four years now, I do know that it’s always the next man up mentality.

“It’s just another opportunity for myself and the other guys in the room to get more opportunities, get more touches or whatever it may be, earn more playing time. I just look forward to getting down there and getting to work with the guys that are in the room.”

Tolbert has already been building immediate chemistry with new Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis. Since signing with Miami, he has run routes for him as Willis trains with his personal passing coach in Jacksonville, as seen in social media video unveiled days ago.