Broncos bring in $84.75 million receiver who could propel them to Super Bowl glory

Having a boatload of draft capital thanks to trading down with San Francisco, Miami selected Jaylen Waddle with the 18th overall pick back in 2021. Waddle was an explosive wideout who excelled in Alabama. Most importantly, he already had established chemistry with QB Tua Tagovailoa. In hopes of building a proper foundation for Tagovailoa to succeed, this pick made sense.

Time with Miami

Though he flashed and eclipsed 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign, it was his utilization under Mike McDaniel which made Waddle a household name. Paired with Tyreek Hill, Waddle formed the fastest receiving duo in the NFL. In his first campaign under McDaniel, he led the league in yards per-reception. In the following three campaigns, he totaled 194 receptions for 2,668 yards and 12 TDs.

Contract extension

In order to maintain their elite supporting cast, Miami extended Waddle. In 2024, he signed a three-year contract worth 84.75 million. The deal would keep Waddle in Vice City till 2028, and established him as the fourth highest-paid wideout in the game at the time.

Decline of the team

After continuous dominant offensive campaigns, Miami’s passing attack began to falter. It already struggled to produce in 2024, but was particularly ineffective in 2025. This can be partially attributed to Tyreek Hill’s injury, but it also had to do with Miami’s shift in philosophy. The team began to favor the ground game, and evolved beyond their air raid roots. Nevertheless, Waddle still produced at a high rate, and continually hauled in errant throws from different QBs.

Start of a rebuild

Concluding their 2025 campaign, the initial belief was that Miami would keep head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel seemed to still have trust in the locker room, and was on the path towards redefining his offense. Regardless, the Dolphins wanted a full reset, and that could not manifest without purging the entire staff. After firing their GM Chris Grier, McDaniel was also let go, signaling their rebuild.

Denver’s need

Denver’s 2025 was a much different story. The franchise finally dethroned the Chiefs for a division title, won 14 games and was a Bo Nix injury away from likely reaching the Super Bowl. Though their offense coordinated by Sean Peyton worked great in tandem with the defense, improvements could be made for Nix’s weapons. Courtland Sutton has been the squad’s designated WR1 for quite some time now, and it’s fair to question if he has what it takes to fulfill that role. Meanwhile, the rest of the wideout room contains a lot of potential, but no one that could provide the presence of a home run threat.

The trade

After the fires of free agency finally settled down, more chaos emerged. As part of the deal, the Denver Broncos would be sending their first, a third and a fourth round pick in exchange for Jaylen Waddle and Miami’s fourth. The deal also has Miami taking the majority of the Waddle’s 2026 cap hit. His effect on the cap for Denver this season will be approximately just $4.9 million. It’s a move that can take Denver over the hump, and one that gives the Dolphins even more draft capital.

What it means for the Broncos

Finding a true needle mover who could take Denver to the next level would be extremely difficult with the club’s first round selection. At 30th overall, most of the premium players will already be taken off the board. So, Denver opts to trade for a proven force rather than gamble through the draft. Waddle finally gives the Broncos a true alpha threat, which could in turn open up the rest of the offense. With Denver’s play-calling being transferred to the promising Davis Webb and stout o-line, all signs are pointing up for the Broncos.

What it means for the Dolphins

At first glance, Miami’s decision may come as a bit of a surprise. Given the fact that they’re employing Malik Willis with the hope that he could blossom into a franchise QB, sabotaging his supporting cast seems counter-intuitive. However, the Dolphins’ roster deficiencies are going to take a lot of effort to fix, and they’ll appreciate any help they can get. Additionally, new GM and HC John Eric-Sullivan and Jeff Hafley come from a franchise that doesn’t particularly value the concept of an alpha receiver. The Packers have employed a committee of number twos and threes for a while now, preferring to spend their capital on trench play. Whether or not this philosophy is sound is debatable. However, given Green Bay’s success, it’s fair for the Dolphins to try their hand at matching that mindset.

Are the Dolphins tanking?

Analysts are predicting that Miami is initiating a tanking season. However, the Malik Willis acquisition complicates things. If the Dolphins front office truly expected to be in the running for a top selection in next year’s draft, would they have thrown a bag at Willis? Instead, what feels to be the case is that Miami is heavily relying on their drafting abilities. After the trade, the team now has seven draft picks in the top 100. Of course, turning those picks into contributors is much easier said than done. Nevertheless, there is a reality where the Dolphins exceed expectations this upcoming season.