NFL insider defends Broncos over trade with Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle

The Denver Broncos made an all-in move regarding the upcoming NFL season when they agreed to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick from the Miami Dolphins in return for a 2026 first-round choice, a third-rounder and a fourth-rounder.   

Some have said that the Broncos overpaid for a receiver who isn't viewed as one of the truly elite players at his position. For a piece published on Wednesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated responded to criticisms of the Broncos' trade. 

Did Broncos get good value in trading for Jaylen Waddle?

"They gave up the 30th and 94th picks, and moved their fourth-rounder up from 130th to 111th," Breer wrote about Denver's trade. "Add up the value of the picks going out (on the chart, 620, 124, 42) and subtract the one coming in (72), and you wind up with the Dolphins netting 714 points, which is roughly the value of the 25th pick (the exact value of that is 720 points)."

It remains to be seen if Waddle or Courtland Sutton will emerge as the top target for Denver quarterback Bo Nix this coming fall. ESPN stats show that Waddle led the 2025 Dolphins with 100 targets, 910 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns (tied with tight end Darren Waller). Waddle was second on the team with 64 receptions. 

For what it's worth, Waddle insisted on Wednesday that he doesn't "think there are No. 1s" and that "everyone is here to make plays and try to win." 

Broncos' trade for Jaylen Waddle makes sense in another way

"The contract’s not exactly a backbreaker, either," Breer continued. "Waddle has three years and $68.6M left. That’s an APY of $22.9M. That, for context, is slightly less than what Denver is paying Courtland Sutton. Which means the Broncos are getting their top two receivers for a little more than what Ja’Marr Chase is making in Cincinnati."

Perhaps most importantly, the trade for Waddle indicates that those making personnel decisions for the Broncos believe a team that fell one win short of playing in this year's Super Bowl was a player away from doing more than simply returning to the conference championship game. If Waddle gets his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy next February, he will prove to be worth all that Denver gave up to land him.