Dolphins Informed Malik Willis Of Jaylen Waddle Trade Before Deal Became Official
The Dolphins’ receiving corps does not look like it did when Malik Willis committed to Miami. The Broncos now have Jaylen Waddle in place as a Bo Nix weapon, strengthening a long-Courtland Sutton-reliant skill-position corps while depleting the Dolphins’ offense.
Miami dealt Waddle to Denver eight days after Willis committed to follow Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley to South Beach. While the new Dolphins GM could not exactly inform Willis a trade was imminent when the team gave him a three-year deal worth $67MM, the new Miami starting QB did receive advance notice shortly before Waddle was dealt.
“I’m not going to ever make it a habit to call and feel like I need to explain myself to players in the locker room for the moves that I’m going to make. That’s not how this position works,” Sullivan said, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “I think they would respect me less if I did. I’m going to do what I think is right for the Miami Dolphins, not what a player or players want me to do.”
While this is not exactly Kirk Cousins not being informed the Falcons were eyeing a quarterback at No. 8 overall, Willis certainly has a different picture of the Dolphins’ receiving corps compared to when he signed. The Dolphins had released Tyreek Hill when they added Willis, but Waddle was in place as the team’s top wideout. After deploying an elite Hill-Waddle tandem for three-plus seasons, Miami now may have the NFL’s worst receiver array.
The Dolphins will surely address the position in the draft, but the rebuilding team has a few other needs that could warrant a first-round investment. The team rosters holdover Malik Washington to go with midlevel free agency additions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert. Both players enjoyed inconsistent tenures with their initial NFL clubs, while Washington (317 receiving yards, three touchdowns in Year 2) does not profile as a No. 1 target.
We heard last month Miami did not aggressively shop Waddle, and Sullivan confirmed (via the Herald’s Omar Kelly) that was the case. Kelly labeled the Broncos as “persistent” in pursuing the speedy wideout, whom Denver also looked into before last year’s deadline. The Broncos traded Nos. 30, 94 and 130 for Waddle and No. 111. This gives the Dolphins additional first- and third-round selections as they attempt to launch another rebuild.
“Whenever you’re sitting in this seat you always bite your lip when you see good players walk about the door, for whatever reason they leave,” Sullivan said. “Waddle is 27 years old. We’re in an era where the market for receivers is through the roof.”
Not much criticism has come either team’s way for this move, with the Dolphins extracting considerable value for a player who has not eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards since 2023. Waddle did begin his career 3-for-3 in 1,000-yard seasons and offers a versatile skillset the Broncos had lacked during Nix’s first two seasons. Denver is certainly betting on Waddle upside shown earlier in his career, with the ex-Patrick Surtain college teammate set to team with Sutton to form a strong receiving duo in Nix’s third (and likely final) season on a rookie contract.
The Dolphins, who went through with an aggressive rebuild in 2019, will now have two first-rounders and four thirds in this draft. The team obtained the other two by dealing Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles at the 2025 deadline and sending a fourth-round pick to Houston during the 2025 draft; the Texans traded the 2026 third to draft Woody Marks 116th overall last year. With seven picks over the first three rounds, Sullivan has plenty to work with ahead of his first draft as a GM. He also has a lot of work to do to help a roster desperate for young talent.
WR Rumors: Tyson, Eagles, Waddle, Moore, Giants, Bears, Cowboys, Cards, Colts
One of the wide receivers expected to go off the draft board in Round 1, Jordyn Tyson did not work out at the Combine and will not participate at Arizona State’s pro day Friday. Tyson missed time with a hamstring injury last season, and it has apparently affected his pre-draft timeline. Tyson, however, will work out for teams April 17, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. That said, the former Colorado recruit will only do positional drills that day. As our Ely Allen pointed out in December, Tyson is a high-ceiling prospect but one that carries injury baggage. Knee and collarbone injuries affected Tyson in separate years with the Sun Devils, and this hamstring issue — when coupled with past maladies — could certainly affect his draft stock. But his 1,101-yard 2024 slate should provide a solid first-round floor. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Tyson 21st overall in this class.
Here is the latest from the receiver ranks:
- Regardless of their A.J. Brown decision, the Eagles will target a receiver in the draft, The Athletic’s Zach Berman notes. Howie Roseman hit with DeVonta Smith in 2021 but famously missed with Jalen Reagor (Round 1, 2020) and JJ Arcega-Whiteside (Round 2, 2019). A receiver move should be expected early, Berman adds, though he notes optimism exists among decisionmakers Smith can make another jump with a boost in targets. A Brown trade — heavily rumored to be in the works after June 1 — would create a critical need for Philly, but a rookie stepping in alongside Smith and Marquise Brown would stand to bolster the slender WR’s role within the offense.
- Marquise Brown joined the Eagles on a one-year deal worth $5MM in base value, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The former Ravens, Cardinals and Chiefs wideout can max out at $6.5MM on the contract. Brown’s $5MM is fully guaranteed, which marks only a slight discount from his 2025 Kansas City terms (one year, $7MM).
- The Broncos have already used Jaylen Waddle‘s contract to create cap space, with Wilson indicating the team converted $15.42MM of the trade pickup’s option bonus to a signing bonus. Waddle is still due $17.24MM in 2026 compensation, 9News’ Mike Klis adds, but his cap number checks in at $4.88MM. That number will jump to $27.1MM in 2027, however, with $15.2MM of Waddle’s ’27 compensation being guaranteed. Acquiring Waddle’s $28.25MM-per-year contract from the Dolphins last week, Broncos hold $18.75MM in 2026 cap space, per OverTheCap.
- The Bills also restructured their WR trade acquisition’s contract, converting $22.19MM in base salary into a signing bonus. This created $17.75MM in cap space, according to OverTheCap. D.J. Moore‘s 2026 cap hit sits at just $6.75MM, though like Waddle, he is due a hefty 2027 guarantee ($15.5MM). Buffalo holds $12.29MM in cap space.
- Already reworking Terence Steele and Malik Hooker‘s contracts, the Cowboys adjusted Jonathan Mingo‘s as well. Mingo accepted a pay cut, per Wilson, who notes the former second-round pick is now on a $1.15MM deal that includes no guaranteed money. After underwhelming on his rookie deal and missing 2025 time due to injury, Mingo will vie for a roster spot. One year remains on his rookie deal.
- Darnell Mooney was tied to a three-year, $39MM Falcons deal, but ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes his one-year Giants pact is worth just $3MM in base value. That figure does come fully guaranteed, per Wilson, who notes the contract can max out at $10MM. Calvin Austin‘s Giants agreement comes in at just $1.5MM, according to OverTheCap, with $400K guaranteed. The slot receiver’s deal can max out at $3MM, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, who notes the ex-Steeler’s playing time incentives start at a 45% snap rate; his catch incentives begin at 35, with his yardage escalators starting at 400. Meeting the minimum thresholds in each category would earn Austin $150K.
- Rounding up some other recent WR terms, the Bears are giving Kalif Raymond a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. The contract includes $3MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets, and can max out at $5.1MM. The Cardinals’ Devin Duvernay deal is worth $1.85MM in base value, per Wilson, who adds $550K is guaranteed at signing. The Colts will have Nick Westbrook-Ikhine tied to a one-year, $1.4MM deal, Wilson adds, noting $438K is guaranteed at signing.
Dolphins Did Not Aggressively Shop Jaylen Waddle; Broncos Inquired After Combine
Sean Payton‘s Saints did acquire Jeremy Shockey via trade (in 2008), but they were known more for jettisoning playmakers than acquiring them in trades. The Saints traded Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills in 2015 and unloaded Brandin Cooks in 2017. First-round picks came back in the Graham and Cooks swaps, with the pick in the latter deal becoming All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk in an impact Saints draft class.
Entering Year 4 in Denver, however, the Broncos held the No. 30 overall pick and carried a roster without many glaring needs — especially since the team completed a host of 2025 extensions before re-signing a handful of free agents. Although the Broncos traded three first-round picks from 2022-23 — for Russell Wilson and then Payton’s rights — they felt comfortable to deal first-, third- and fourth-round picks to the Dolphins for Waddle and a fourth. Waddle joins Courtland Sutton to form one of the NFL’s top receiving duos.
The Broncos inquired about Waddle before last year’s deadline, when the Bills were believed to have come closest to acquiring the speedy wide receiver, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes assistant GM Reed Burckhardt reached out to new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan after the Combine to initiate talks with Miami’s new regime. This came after, per Breer, interest from other teams emerged in Indianapolis. Though, that interest did not progress too far.
Then-interim GM Champ Kelly held onto Waddle despite a Bills offer believed to include a 2027 first-rounder and a 2026 third, the Broncos also started their second Waddle process with an offer of a 2027 pick. Denver put its 2026 first on the table immediately during talks this offseason, Breer adds, but its initial proposal included a 2027 third-rounder. The Dolphins pushed the Broncos to include their 2026 third-rounder rather than their 2027 third.
No other aggressive suitors appeared to be in play here, per Breer, who notes Broncos GM George Paton trusted Sullivan not to shop Denver’s offer around the league. Paton worked with Jon-Eric Sullivan’s father, Jerry, who was a former Dolphins receivers coach during the current Broncos GM’s time in Miami’s front office. The Bills had also already made their receiver move, sending a second-round pick to the Bears for D.J. Moore and a fifth. Other teams obviously had Waddle on the radar, but it does not sound like anyone rivaled the Broncos’ aggression this month.
The Broncos used a few of their own players — from Patrick Surtain to ex-Auburn QB Bo Nix to former Dolphin safety Brandon Jones — as resources regarding Waddle, with the team contacting Nick Saban on his former charge as well. Surtain, Waddle’s roommate at Alabama, had spoken to others (via the Denver Post’s Luca Evans) about a potential trade reuniting the Crimson Tide teammates. Overall, around 15 sources led the Broncos to make this Waddle investment.
Naturally, the Broncos compared Waddle’s value to what could be obtained in free agency and at No. 30 overall. The team ranked 14th in scoring offense last season but 19th in explosive pass rate, according to Sharp Football Stats. Marvin Mims has made impactful plays as a Broncos deep threat, but the team has not regularly trusted the former second-round pick as a receiver. Mims’ increased playoff usage came after both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant suffered injuries. Franklin and Bryant will see their paths to prominent roles blocked by this Waddle acquisition, while Mims’ future is foggier. The All-Pro return man is in a contract year.
Three years remain on Waddle’s $28.75MM-per-year contract — a deal that looks slightly better after Jaxon Smith-Njigba moved the WR market to $42.15MM AAV today — and the 2021 first-rounder is on Denver’s 2026 cap sheet at just $4.91MM. As our Adam La Rose noted in his most recent mailbag, Waddle’s deal will both line up with Nix’s 2026 rookie-deal salary and the early years of an extension. Nix will likely be extended in 2027, but the Broncos will assuredly backload the deal to keep the QB’s cap numbers manageable in the near future — especially after authorizing many extensions from 2024-25.
The Dolphins now hold Nos. 11, 30, 43, 75, 87, 90 and 94 in the first three rounds of this draft. That is an impressive war chest for Sullivan in his first draft as a GM, though the team did not do well to maximize its draft capital when it tore down the roster early in Chris Grier‘s decision-making run.
Miami, which is not planning to trade De’Von Achane, extracted plenty of value for Waddle. It should not be expected the Broncos extend the high-end trade pickup this year, as that would negate the advantage trading for a through-2028 deal (the Broncos may also be skittish about such a move considering how poorly their summer 2022 Wilson extension aged).
But if Waddle impresses this season, it should be expected his camp will want an update with his new team. For now, though, the Broncos have Waddle and Sutton sitting as the NFL’s 13th- and 19th-highest-paid wideouts.
Dolphins Restructured Aaron Brewer, De’Von Achane Deals For Waddle Trade
The Dolphins’ decision to part ways with Tua Tagovailoa this offseason put them in a tight cap situation due to the $99.2MM in dead money it left on their books.
Trading Jaylen Waddle stretched their budget even further, as the pre-June 1 move accelerated his remaining bonus prorations onto this year’s salary cap. That created $26.5MM in dead money in 2026, higher than his originally-scheduled cap hit of $11.8MM, which would have put Miami over the 2026 limit once the trade was processed.
To clear the requisite space, the Dolphins restructured the contracts of center Aaron Brewer and running back De’Von Achane, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. For Brewer, this meant a conversion of $5.25MM of his 2026 salary to a signing bonus, reducing his salary to the veteran minimum and his cap hit by $4.2MM to $4.95MM (via OverTheCap). This is the last year of Brewer’s contract with three void years already present, so one more was added to maximize the savings of the move, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. While technically this increases his cap hit in each of the next four seasons by $1.05MM, those charges will all accelerate onto the Dolphins’ 2027 cap when Brewer’s deal voids next February, leaving $4.2MM in dead money. An extension before the void date will prevent that acceleration.
Achane’s salary – originally boosted to $5.77MM as a result of the Proven Performance Escalator – was also reduced to the veteran minimum with $4.62MM converted to a signing bonus, per Wilson. Four void years were added to maximize the 2026 cap savings of the restructure, thereby creating the same amount of dead money for the 2027 season. An Achane extension, which could be negotiated in the coming months, would defer those charges.
The Dolphins will still need to clear more cap space to sign their rookie class and afford minor in-season expenses. Much of that relief will arrive on June 1, when the $20.2MM in savings from Bradley Chubb‘s release will be processed. The Dolphins will also receive a $3.08MM cap credit in 2027 for Waddle, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.
Miami’s new regime was clearly prepared for these cap gymnastics entering the offseason. They were able to sign a full free agent class – including quarterback Malik Willis, who signed the seventh-biggest contract in free agency – despite devoting more than half of their budget to players that are no longer on the team.
But moving Waddle was only worth it for the compensation they received from the Broncos. Miami established a first-round-plus valuation for their star wide receiver back at the 2025 trade deadline and stuck to it during negotiations this offseason. Denver was willing to add a third-rounder to their No. 30 selection, but only if a fourth-round pick swap was also part of the deal, per 9News’ Mike Klis.
Broncos Acquire WR Jaylen Waddle From Dolphins
MARCH 18: Following the Maxx Crosby drama, fans of both teams were anxious for Waddle to complete his physical to formally complete the trade. The deal was formally announced on Wednesday by both teams, indicating that Waddle passed his physical in Denver and is now officially a member of the Broncos.
MARCH 17: The Broncos’ first outside addition of the new league year is certainly a notable one. Jaylen Waddle is heading to Denver.
The Dolphins have worked out a trade to send Waddle to the Broncos, as first reported by Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Multiple picks in the 2026 draft will be exchanged as part of the deal, as detailed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Meanwhile, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes Denver will take on the remainder of Waddle’s contract in full, including his 2026 base salary ($1.22MM).
Here is the full breakdown of the trade terms:
Broncos acquire:
- Waddle
- Miami’s fourth-round pick (No. 111)
Dolphins acquire:
- Denver’s first-round pick (No. 30)
- Broncos’ own third- and fourth-rounders (Nos. 94 and 130)
Until today, the Broncos had focused on retaining as many of their own players as possible. The AFC’s top seed in 2025 still had a vacancy with respect to pass-catching options, however. Denver was linked yesterday to interest in the tight end market, with Evan Engram disappointing during his debut Broncos campaign. Regardless of what happens on that front, a high-profile receiving option is set to be in place for next season with GM George Paton taking a major swing early in the new league year. A physical is scheduled for tomorrow, per Schefter’s colleague Jeff Darlington.
The Dolphins dismissed general manager Chris Grier shortly before the 2025 trade deadline. That led to an increased expectation with respect to the team’s willingness to move on from players. Waddle, 27, generated considerable interest, and the Broncos were one of many teams which made calls. In the end, no suitors were willing to meet the Dolphins’ asking price of a first-rounder and more.
With new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley arriving, the Dolphins have begun a full-blown rebuild. Several veterans have been released recently in cost-shedding moves and to clear roster spots for younger replacements. That includes not only quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and edge rusher Bradley Chubb – both of whom quickly found new homes in free agency – but also receiver Tyreek Hill. It came as no surprise when Hill was cut, a move which seemed to put Waddle in position to operate as the Dolphins’ top wideout in 2026 and beyond.
Indeed, a report from last month named the former first-rounder along with lead running back De’Von Achane as core pieces the new regime was not looking to part with. Things have certainly changed in short order with a suitor willing to pay a premium for Waddle. Three years remain on his contract, a lucrative extension signed in 2024. Given the guarantees present in the pact, this swap will carry even more unwanted financial implications for Miami during an offseason full of major cap-related moves.
Waddle is owed an option bonus worth $6.06MM on Friday as part of his $17.24MM in overall compensation. That helps explain the timing of this trade, one which will see the Alabama product paired with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin. Sutton’s pact runs through 2029, while Mims and Franklin – just like quarterback Bo Nix – are attached to their rookie contracts. Coming off the back of a second straight playoff appearance, Denver is aggressively pursuing an upgrade in the passing game.
Miami, meanwhile, will add yet another premium pick for 2026. Once the Waddle move is official, the Dolphins will own a pair of Day 1 selections and a total of seven picks across the first three rounds. Several roster holes will need to be filled next month, and receiver will no doubt be high on the priority list. With Hill and now Waddle out of the picture, Miami’s WR depth chart is currently topped by the likes of Malik Washington and recent additions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert.
Putting together a cost-effective supporting cast around new quarterback Malik Willis will increasingly be the goal for Miami this offseason. This trade highlights to an even larger extent the long-term nature of the team’s rebuild. As the Broncos look to maximize their window with Nix on an affordable contract, bringing in a three-time 1,000-yard producer will generate increased expectations on offense.
Dolphins Do Not Intend To Trade De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle
The Dolphins turned down offers for running back De’Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at the trade deadline, and their stance on the matter has not changed heading into the offseason.
Miami still sees their speedy offensive skill players as “core players,” according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, and have no desire to trade them as a result.
Achane, 24, just finished a career-best season with 1,838 yards from scrimmage and an NFL-high 5.7 yards per carry. He will become eligible for an extension in the new league year, and his next contract will likely make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
At the deadline, the Dolphins reportedly set a price of “a second-round pick and more” for Achane that no other team was willing to meet. As the draft approaches – and more teams begin to fall in love with Day 1 and 2 prospects – the chances of Miami getting such a haul for their young running back will likely drop. That kind of an offer may no longer be good enough, either, as the new front office and coaching staff could see Achane as a foundational part of their offense.
Waddle, 27, just finished his second straight season under 1,000 receiving yards after eclipsing that number in his previous three years. Much of that regression can be attributed to the Dolphins’ issues at quarterback and general offensive woes in 2025.
The Dolphins demanded a first-round pick “and then some” for Waddle at the deadline with no team making such an offer. The 2021 No. 6 pick has three years remaining on his contract with a $15.4MM option bonus due on March 20. He currently has no other guaranteed money in the future, though $8.2MM of his 2027 salary will become guaranteed early in the 2027 league year, per OverTheCap. That much contract control for a star wide receiver is another reason why the Dolphins set such a high price for Waddle in the past and plan to hold onto him moving forward.
The Dolphins would be more inclined to trade Minkah Fitzpatrick, per Wolfe, aligning with earlier reporting that the team was shopping the 29-year-old safety. Though they have hopes of quickly retooling around younger talents like Achane and Waddle, Fitzpatrick does not fit the timeline of a team that has yet to find its next quarterback.
Two Dolphins who may not be on the field at all next year – in Miami or elsehwere – are running back Alexander Mattison and offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg.
Mattison underwent emergency fusion surgery after a preseason neck injury in Chicago. The 27-year-old running back said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that he is still recovering but expressed hope to play again in the future.
Eichenberg is in a similar situation. He spent the entire season on the physically unable to perform list due to a lingering knee injury that flared up during offseason practices.
“It was one of those things that just started happening working out, doing exercises,” Eichenberg said (via Jackson). “My knee was just kind of breaking down for the most part.”
Eichenberg declined to say if he underwent surgery to address the issue. As for his playing future, he plans to try to return to the field but did not offer much more information.
Bills Were “High Bidder” For Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle, Also Pursued DT Quinnen Williams
After Tuesday’s trade deadline passed, Bills GM Brandon Beane lamented the fact that he was unable to swing a deal to improve his roster. He also noted that his club’s salary cap situation – Buffalo has under $3MM of cap space – prevented him from “fishing in the deep end of the pond.”
But subsequent reports suggest Beane did plenty of deep sea (or pond) fishing. The problem is that several of his targets are/were on teams in the same division, making it more difficult to consummate a trade.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Bills were the “high bidder” for Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle. The team was known to be interested in a receiver upgrade, and Waddle certainly would have fit the bill(s).
Champ Kelly, the Dolphins’ interim GM, was said to be more amenable than Chris Grier, his predecessor, to a Waddle deal. Kelly nonetheless set a high asking price on Waddle, which was reported to be a first-round pick “and then some.”
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Dolphins were seeking a third-rounder in addition to a first–round selection in a Waddle trade. Pelissero reports Beane was willing to meet that price, but not in the way Miami wanted (video link). Beane was prepared to part with a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 first, but Kelly wanted the first-rounder to be in 2026. Plus, Pelissero’s NFL Network colleague Mike Garafolo hears Kelly would have required even more than that if he were to agree to send Waddle to the division-rival Bills. Waddle’s prorated 2025 base salary of $1.17MM would have been feasible for Buffalo to absorb, but the cost of the trade itself clearly was not. In the end, Waddle stayed put.
More difficult from at least a financial standpoint for the Bills to acquire was Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, though Pelissero reports Beane pursued him as well (and offered a first-round pick as part of his proposal). Buffalo has one of the worst run defenses in the league, and starting DT Ed Oliver suffered a torn biceps in Week 8 and will not return until the postseason (if at all). Williams would have been an ideal on-field fit, but his prorated 2025 salary of $15.65MM would have required a great deal of last-minute maneuvering on Beane’s part (as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com observes). And, it is fair to assume New York, like Miami, would have set an even higher price tag for a divisional foe (Gang Green ultimately dealt Willams to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-rounder, a 2027 first-rounder, and DT Mazi Smith).
Having struck out in their trade pursuits – which also included a stab at a CB upgrade and linebacker Logan Wilson – the Bills will hope their existing roster can make another playoff run. The team is 6-3 and in a close race with the surprising Patriots (8-2) for the AFC East title.
Steelers Believed They Were Close To Acquiring WR At Trade Deadline, Inquired About Jaylen Waddle
The Steelers were reportedly one of the most aggressive clubs in pursuing a wide receiver at this year’s trade deadline, and they were in on the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers before Las Vegas shipped the contract-year wideout to the Jaguars. Ultimately, Pittsburgh did not swing a trade for a player to complement Aaron Rodgers’ contingent of pass catchers.
Pittsburgh did sign Marquez Valdes-Scantling shortly before the deadline, and according to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show, the club was at least somewhat close to adding a receiver. However, that unnamed player ultimately stayed with his current team.
The Titans’ Calvin Ridley or the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle could have been the receiver in question, as both players were connected to the Steelers in the run-up to the deadline but were not traded. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Pittsburgh did call Miami to discuss Waddle, joining the Broncos and the Bills as known suitors of the 2021 first-rounder.
We heard just this morning that the high price that Dolphins interim GM Champ Kelly set on Waddle was a first- and third-round pick (and, in the case of the division-rival Bills, who did offer a package including those selections, Kelly wanted even more). Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports believes multiple non-Buffalo teams would have been willing to make the deal if the third-rounder were not part of the equation, and despite some chatter that the ‘Fins may have been prepared to lower their asking price as the deadline got closer, they obviously could not come to terms with any interested clubs.
We may never know if the Steelers were one of the teams prepared to pony up a first-rounder for Waddle. In any event, Rodgers & Co. will have to content themselves with the Valdes-Scantling addition as they seek to retain control of the AFC North.
Per Kaboly, the Steelers thought MVS would sign with them in August, after he was released by the Seahawks. The 31-year-old had previously acknowledged he had to choose between San Francisco and Pittsburgh, and at the time, he saw the 49ers as the better fit.
He wound up playing in five games with the 49ers, catching four balls for 40 yards. He eventually was released with an injury settlement.
Dolphins Took Calls On Jaylen Waddle; Broncos Showed Interest
Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle came up as a trade candidate in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. Ultimately, no deal came together for the 26-year-old, who will finish the season in Miami.
The Dolphins took calls on Waddle, but their asking price of a first-round pick and more was too high for other clubs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY.
With the Broncos in the market for a receiver, they were among a few teams to reach out to the Dolphins regarding Waddle’s availability, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. In the end, though, the AFC West leaders didn’t add Waddle or any other wideout on Tuesday. Head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos weren’t close to a trade, adding they’re content with their roster (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette).
Depending on how the rest of the campaign unfolds, it’s possible the Broncos (and other teams) will circle back to Waddle during the offseason. By then, the Dolphins will have a new general manager who could be amenable to moving Waddle. Even if the Dolphins promote interim GM Champ Kelly, who took over for the ousted Chris Grier last week, a deal may not be out of the question. Unlike Grier, Kelly was at least willing to listen to offers for Waddle.
If Waddle does stay with the Dolphins in 2026, which will be his sixth season, the former Alabama standout is likely to function as their No. 1 wideout again. Tyreek Hill was Miami’s leading receiver in each of the previous three years, but after suffering a season-ending knee injury in late September, he may have played his last game with the team. The Dolphins are expected to release Hill before the new league year begins in March.
Despite subpar quarterback play this season from Tua Tagovailoa, who may be playing for his job, Waddle is on pace for his fourth 1,000-yard showing. Nine games into 2025, Waddle has racked up 41 catches, 586 yards, and four touchdowns. With Waddle continuing to excel and under team control through 2028, Miami isn’t in any hurry to part with him.
Suitors Considering Jaylen Waddle Trade; Dolphins WR Unlikely To Be Dealt
As expected, the Dolphins dealt away one of their top trade candidates yesterday. Jaelan Phillips is no longer in the fold, and it remains to be seen if other moves will be coming ahead of the deadline.
Jaylen Waddle is among the players drawing the most attention in Miami’s case. The fifth-year wideout was not viewed as a candidate to be dealt under general manager Chris Grier. The Dolphins’ decision to move on from him just before the deadline has, however, led to a perceived shift in stance in terms of how willing the team is to part with players. Interim GM Champ Kelly has made one move, and it was reported over the weekend he would consider a Waddle trade.
Any trade on that front would come at a high price. Indeed, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms any Waddle swap would cost a first-round pick “and then some.” He adds a deal being worked out today remains unlikely, but he also writes there are teams discussing whether or not a trade would still be worth pursuing despite the ask on Miami’s part.
Several teams – including the Steelers and Bills – have frequently been mentioned as suitors for a wideout addition. In those cases, however, a rental would be considered more feasible. That could steer Pittsburgh and Buffalo in the direction of pending free agents such as Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed. Still, Waddle’s name will be worth watching especially if other wideouts find themselves on the move shortly.
The 26-year-old topped 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, and he is in line to continue operating as Miami’s No. 1 wideout with Tyreek Hill sidelined for the remainder of the current campaign. Especially if Hill is released at the end of the year, Waddle will project as a focal point on offense for years to come. The Alabama product is averaging 14.3 yards per catch in 2025, the second-highest total of his career.
Waddle is under contract through 2028, and his pact contains vesting dates for bonuses and option/bonus payments every year along the way. Taking on the pact would be difficult for many teams as a result, although the remainder of his base salary for this year would be easy to absorb for any contender. A swap would still be a surprise, but with the door open to one being agreed to by Miami’s new front office, this situation will be one to watch.