Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
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Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Denver Broncos’ offseason success all but hinges on their blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle panning out. If not, the Broncos will have paid largely a premium to pay another one.
That is the reality of the Broncos’ situation, who are coming off a 14-win season that resulted in an AFC Championship Game berth and an otherwise quiet offseason.
Fortunately, the Broncos have plans to get their money’s worth out of their new playmaker.
Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle Heading for Big Payday
Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
GettyJaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins reacts after Tyreek Hill #10 was injured against the New York Jets.
Waddle is a former top-10 draft pick who has multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his credit, joining a Broncos team that earned the top seed in the AFC last season.
And yet, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan’s logic for the trade makes one thing abundantly clear. The Broncos face heightened expectations on the field, thanks to their trade for Waddle. They also face the prospects of a costly extension.
Sullivan said Waddle is a “really good player,” but also that he is “going to want a new contract.”
“We’re in a situation in Miami–and I think everybody gets it–we have to get younger, we have to get cheaper,” Sullivan said on “Pro Football Talk” on March 30. “Receiver market’s not going down, it’s going up. And by the time we hit our stride, I didn’t know that that made a lot of sense for us. That’s as transparent as I can be with you. I thought it was a really good trade for us.
“We got to put two rookie players on rookie contracts that, if I do my job the right way, will be good players. And they got to add a piece to an established team that, maybe, may help them get over the top. So, I thought that George [Paton] and those guys were phenomenal to work with. He did a great job in his negotiation. I felt like it was a fair deal, and I felt like it was a win for both teams, quite frankly.”
Chris Tomasson
Broncos GM George Paton on the Waddle trade
The Broncos surrendered first and third-round picks and swapped fourth-rounders with Miami in the deal for Waddle.
He is signed through 2028 on a three-year, $84.7 million contract.
The Broncos now roster seven players on contracts worth more than $80 million, including two-time Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton. Sutton’s four-year, $92 million pact runs through the 2029 season. The Broncos will face a different financial decision by then.
Dolphins Made Difficult Decision on Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
GettyJaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before a game against the New England Patriots.
Sullivan said that “you bite your lip” when seeing players leave, even in situations like Waddle’s trade to the Broncos, and to suggest otherwise would be “lying.”
Waddle’s impact as a person added another layer of complexity to the situation.
“I need to say this publicly: phenomenal player and a really good person. He left an imprint on the people in Miami, and we wish him nothing but the best. But I feel like I did the right thing for the Miami Dolphins, but it was not easy to watch him leave. That’s the truth,” Sullivan told PFT hosts Mike Florio and former NFL QB Chris Simms.
“Again, they were first class. It was a long, hard negotiation, if you will. But we got to a point where it felt like it was good for them, good for the Miami Dolphins, and we moved forward with it. And we wish Jaylen the best. I know he’ll do well.”
Paton and Broncos head coach Sean Payton are quite certain that Sullivan and the Dolphins’ loss of Waddle will prove to be the Broncos’ gain, even with costs looming.
Payton notably mentioned the Broncos are aware of where they are in Bo Nix’s contract.
Once Nix lands a new deal, roster-building will become far more complex for Paton, and moves like acquiring Waddle will be even rarer. It all adds to the pressure on the Broncos to prove their decision to trade for Waddle was the proper one.
Broncos Have Clear Plan for Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
GettyJaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during warmups before a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Payton lauded Waddle’s addition, citing the various ways Denver plans to utilize the veteran in their offense.
Payton noted how close he was with individuals who have been around the “explosive” Waddle, whose top trait is “he’s extremely fast and stops fast. The list included ex-Broncos and Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, saying reviews came back “10, 10, 10” across the board.
The coach also praised the player’s competitiveness, which bodes well for his role on the field.
Payton and Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb are expected to deploy Waddle “inside and outside,” per DNVR’s Zac Stevens.