Miami Dolphins
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Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane were listed as trade candidates by ESPN
The Miami Dolphins are in the process of a rebuild. General managerJon-Eric Sullivan revealedthat the team needs to get “cheaper and younger.” Sullivan’s first offseason with the Dolphins has proven just that as the team has cut ties with high-priced players like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. Additionally, theteam is said to be exploring trades for players like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa.
For that reason, people around the league have taken notice of Miami’s situation and potential trade candidates. Last season, after Miami’s 2-7 start, the team traded former first-round pick Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles, as he was set to be a free agent after the season. Now,Phillips was ranked by The Athletic as the third-best free agent in the NFL.
Aside from trading Phillips, the Dolphins also had discussions about trading Jaylen Waddle and Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane. While the team opted not to trade them, they could re-enter trade conversations this offseason.
Miami Dolphins’ Waddle and Achane Listed as Trade Candidates
ESPN released a list of the top 15 trade candidates this offseason, and Waddle and Achane both featured in the top three. Regarding the rumors about a possible De’Von Achane trade, ESPN reporter Dan Graziano wrote, “The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they’re getting calls on all of their star players. My sense is that they’re far more likely to extend Achane’s contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done.”
In terms of the rumors around the league for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Graziano wrote, “There were whispers of a potential Waddle deal at the trade deadline in October, but those might have been generated from the interested teams rather than from the Dolphins. With Tyreek Hill released, a Waddle deal would represent a significant reset in Miami.” Graziano also added, “My sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a building block who’s under contract and aren’t eager to move on from him. They’ll get calls, no doubt, but it would take a lot for them to deal him.”
Waddle and Achane’s Abilities.
ESPN writer Ben Solak wrote about the skillset of the pair of players. Regarding Achane, Solak wrote, “The 24-year-old running back has game-breaking speed, high-volume receiving ability and much better toughness and tackle-breaking skills than his slight frame might suggest. He’s a better — and younger — talent than anyone in the loaded free agent RB market.”
Meanwhile for Waddle, he wrote, “Waddle has multiple seasons of cost-controlled play on his existing contract, is only 27 years old and can be both a yards-after-catch slot option and a downfield vertical threat. He doesn’t have the frame to be a high-volume WR1, but he would be an excellent, explosive half of a league-leading tandem at wide receiver. He caught 64 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns last season.”
Fortunately for Dolphins fans, both players were listed at only 10% chance of getting traded. ESPN Dolphins writerMarcel Louis-Jacques had previously reported that the Dolphins viewed both Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane as important parts of the franchise. Despite general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan saying he would listen to trade offers, the plan is for the pair to remain with the team.