The Miami Dolphins aren’t trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, regardless of what types of scenarios fans and media pundits may concoct.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said as much on Wednesday when asked about the possibility of the team moving Waddle this offseason.
“No thoughts of trading Jaylen Waddle,” said a chuckling Grier, via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. “He’ll be around here for a long time.”
The Waddle trade chatter began earlier this month when former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum made an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up and suggested that Miami trade Waddle to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Tannenbaum was merely stating that the trade would make sense for both sides given the teams’ respective needs, but of course, some took it and ran with it.
Waddle is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 14 games and caught 72 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns as the Dolphins’ No. 2 receiver behind Tyreek Hill.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by Miami with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He appeared in 16 contests during his rookie year, snaring 104 balls for 1,015 yards and six scores. Then, the following season, Waddle hauled in 75 receptions for 1,356 yards while reaching the end zone eight times. He also led the NFL by averaging 18.1 yards per catch.
Waddle is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but there has not yet been any talk about any negotiations between the two sides.
The Dolphins are currently $28.5 million over the salary cap, so they would obviously have to approach any potential discussions with Jaylen Waddle with future financial flexibility in mind.
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