Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
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Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during warmups before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Denver Broncos have taken the NFL by storm during the quieter stages of free agency, and all that it took was a blockbuster trade for now-former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Waddle had been linked to the Broncos both speculatively and in the rumor mill in recent seasons, and now lands in a destination that needed his explosiveness and consistency.
His move also reunites Waddle with one of his best friends, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Jaylen Waddle Shares Fitting Update With Pat Surtain II After Broncos’ Trade
Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos.
Surtain and Waddle were also teammates at Alabama, coming out in the same draft class. Waddle took to social media on Tuesday following the trade, sharing an image of himself and his new Broncos teammate.
“Jaylen Waddle and Pat Surtain II seem happy,” The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel posted on X on March 17, along with a screenshot of the wideout’s Instagram story.
Parker Gabriel
Jaylen Waddle and Pat Surtain II seem happy.
The Broncos selected Surtain three slots after the Dolphins grabbed Waddle in 2021.
Now, iron will sharpen iron in practices, as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year will surely take on his fair share of reps against the 5,000-yard receiver. It also brings Waddle’s recent comments back to light.
“I’ll beat the f*** out of him,” Waddle told Brand Risk Promotions with a smile on March 15. “Beat the dog s*** out of him.”
Surtain responded on X, posting, “A little too much dip on your chip.”
The tongue-in-cheek exchange between Waddle and Surtain served as a fitting setup for this blockbuster move that has reframed the Broncos’ approach to the offseason in a different light. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are living a cold reality.
Broncos & Dolphins Going in Different Directions
Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
GettyJaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before a game against the New England Patriots.
The reactions to Waddle’s trade were positive on Denver’s side, particularly in light of the uncertainty that comes with the draft.
“The Broncos roster doesn’t have many obvious holes,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah posted on X after the deal. “They were going to have a hard time finding immediate impact with pick 30 in this draft joining their current roster. This is a needle mover player for them. Waddle will impact box counts and create space for everyone.
Reactions were more layered from the Dolphins’ standpoint.
“New #Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan inherited a very difficult cap situation. They believe they have their QB in Malik Willis but need an influx of young and cost-controlled talent,” Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported on X on March 17.
“Trading away Jaylen Waddle wasn’t easy, but acquiring a 1 and 4 while clearing salary is part of the rebuild plan in Miami.”
Broncos Complement Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
GettyCourtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media before the AFC Pro Bowl practice.
One of the biggest takeaways from all of this came from DNVR’s Zac Stevens, who noted that the Broncos are “going all in” on 2024 first-round quarterback Bo Nix with their trade for Waddle.
However, the Broncos refrained from disrupting what they already had in doing so.
Waddle’s skill set is different from most of his new teammates, save for Marvin Mims, who also serves as the Broncos’ kick returner. That includes more recent draft picks, Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin
Perhaps most importantly, though, Waddle’s speed and explosiveness complement top option Courtland Sutton, a bigger-bodied, jump-ball threat with plus size and catch radius.
That lack of overlap should allow all of the Broncos’ playmakers to benefit from Waddle’s arrival.