Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
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Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Miami Dolphins pulled off a blockbuster trade on Tuesday. Despite the rumor mill not churning around star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, he was traded to the Denver Broncos.
Waddle, along with a 2026 fourth-round pick, was sent to the Broncos in exchange for the No. 30 overall pick in the first round, a 2026 third-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Moving on from the wideout was a tough decision, but the Dolphins got paid handsomely for the move.
Immediately following the trade, Miami received some backlash.
In free agency, the team signed former Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis. Now, he’s facing an uncertain situation without a legitimate top weapon to target.
That talk has now turned into a potential conspiracy theory. The Dolphins are being named a team clearly trying to tank for Arch Manning in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins Slapped With Arch Manning Conspiracy Theory
Kyle Odegard of Sporting News took to social media to place Miami firmly on the list of the teams who are looking to “March for Arch.”
“Dolphins tanking. Jets tanking. Cardinals tanking,” Odegard wrote. “The March for Arch is crowded.”
Manning is still widely expected to have a shot at being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft next offseason. Even though he didn’t live up to the hype in the 2025 college football season for the Texas Longhorns, his potential is through the roof.
Being the nephew of NFL legends Eli Manning and Peyton Manning has helped his cause. However, the raw talent that the younger Manning possesses has been clear.
Maybe there is something to the idea that the Dolphins are “tanking” in some kind of way. They likely want to get a look at what Willis can be during the 2026 NFL season, but the idea of drafting Manning would have to be intriguing for Miami.
Taking a Closer Look at Arch Manning
During the 2025 college season with the Longhorns, Manning entered the year being talked about as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. That talk died down quickly after a rough start to the season.
When all was said and done, Manning completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his first season as a college starter. He also chipped in with 399 yards and 10 more touchdowns on the ground.
For a down season, those names are spectacular.
After another full offseason of hard work and development, the expectations are sky high for Manning in 2026. Texas will once again be considered a potential National Championship contender entering the year. That hope will depend heavily on Manning.
All of that being said, it will be interesting to see what the 2026 season has in store for the Dolphins. Willis is expected to be the starter, but Manning’s name will be talked a lot as a potential option for Miami if the team struggles.