When Jon Eric Sullivan took the Dolphins’ general manager job, he mentioned a small group of players he would like to build around, but with a caveat: He will listen to trade offers on anyone.
The Denver Broncos made an offer for Jaylen Waddle that Sullivan apparently couldn’t refuse, and Miami’s most accomplished and experienced receiver was dealt to the Broncos on Tuesday in a deal that lands the Dolphins a second first-round pick (30th) overall and other assets.
The full trade: Miami sent Waddle and its fourth-round pick (111th overall) to Denver for the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft and the Broncos’ third and fourth round picks in this year. Those third and fourth round picks will be the 30th overall picks in those rounds.
A month ago, Sullivan told season ticket holders that he would like to turn Miami’s eight picks this April into 11 or 12. He now has 11, after trading Minak Fitzpatrick to the Jets for a seventh rounder and after trading one pick and Waddle for three picks.
The Dolphins now have two first round picks (11 and 30), one second round pick (43) and four third round picks (75, 87, 90 and the Broncos’ pick at 108).
Waddle, selected sixth overall by the Dolphins in the 2021 draft, closes his Dolphins career with 373 catches for 5039 yards (13.5 per catch) and 26 touchdowns.
Even with Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury in Week 4 last week, Waddle had only one 100-yard receiving game all season and finished with 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns.
Waddle’s departures leaves Jalen Tolbert (a former Cowboys starter), Tutu Atwell (a former Rams starter) and Malik Washington as the veterans in a room that also includes Tajh Washington, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Theo Wease.
Waddle signed a four-year, $77 million extension with the Dolphins two seasons ago. The contract runs through 2028