Denver Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle traded from the Miami Dolphins.
Getty
Denver Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle traded from the Miami Dolphins.
As you may or may not have noticed, the Miami Dolphins are having a fire sale. In an effort to rebuild the roster, the Dolphins are jettisoning just about every expensive star player they can find.
In their latest effort to remove the stink of the Chris Grier era, the Dolphins have sent wide receiver and former first-round pick Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos in exchange for first-, third- and fourth-round picks.
For what it’s worth (and to the shock of no one) Waddle is very happy to be joining a team that actually has a chance to do something in 2026. After all, the Broncos were likely a Bo Nix injury away from a Super Bowl appearance last year.
“It’s exciting … just playing with great players,” Waddle said Wednesday during his introductory press conference. “Everyone is talking about how great and close the team is. I’m excited to be around the guys, get to know them, and they get to know me and go from there.
“It’s definitely new beginnings. I just look at it as a new opportunity to go out there with a new team in a great place, play along great talent and help out as best I can.”
NFL executives react to Miami Dolphins trading Jaylen Waddle
Longtime NFL writer Jason La Canfora did some poking around the league to get reactions from personnel executives. Obviously, the Broncos are looking to get over the top and adding an explosive weapon for Nix is a good way to do that. But, did they need to also give up the third- and the fourth-round picks in the deal?
“Denver is playing the 2027 compensatory pick game, that’s their strategy,” a high-ranking official from one NFL team told La Canfora.
“They want to stockpile pick. They let John Franklin-Myers walk and PJ Locke. That’s a four (projected fourth-round pick) and a seven.”
One NFL general manager told La Canfora that it’s a bit of a surprise that Waddle is really the only significant move Denver has made so far this offseason. They didn’t make any notable splashes in free agency.
As one G.M. said, “You would think they’d be more aggressive after (significantly improving) the last two years, and with (quarterback) Bo Nix still on his rookie contract, but they want the comp picks.”
Or, they could look at it like they were an injury away from potentially winning a title, so they don’t need to make many major moves.
The Jaylen Waddle trade was good for the Dolphins and the Broncos
It’s not every day that you can look at an NFL trade and say it was good for both teams. In this case, I think it absolutely was.
The Dolphins pretty much complete the purge (De’Von Achane would debatably be the only remaining star player at this point) of the Grier era and were well compensated with three picks. The Broncos, on the other hand, add another dimension to their offense that can help right away.
“They needed juice downfield at receiver,” the first executive said. “They paid a big price, but I’d rather have Waddle on his deal ($17M guaranteed in 2026 and $15.2M for 2027) than what the Colts paid to keep (receiver Alec) Pierce.”
Earlier this month, the Colts re-signed Pierce to a four-year, $114 million contract to remain with the team. While Pierce is an excellent receiver, Waddle has more upside for less money.