The Denver Broncos have pulled off what could be the biggest move of the NFL offseason, pulling off a blockbuster trade for Miami Dolphins superstar wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
“Broncos are trading for Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on Tuesday morning. “Denver receives: Waddle and Dolphins’ 4th-round pick (11th in round) in this year’s draft. Miami receives: Broncos’ 1st round pick (30th overall) along with their late 3rd and 4th round picks (30th in each round) in this year’s draft.”
It’s a seismic move for the Broncos, who addressed their biggest offseason concern by trading for Waddle.
“I absolutely love this for Denver,” ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. ” … they needed a true wide receiver with speed, and there’s Jaylen Waddle. Huge pickup for Denver.”
Denver had been criticized for being the only team not to sign any outside free agents through the 1st week of NFL free agency.
“Splash: The Broncos are pulling off a post-free agency blockbuster by trading for Dolphins star WR Jaylen Waddle,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “Premium draft pick compensation is headed to Miami. The two teams started talking last year at the trade deadline and kept working. Now, a deal.”
Broncos Almost Traded for Waddle in 2025
The Broncos almost made a blockbuster trade for Waddle at the 2025 trade deadline but balked at the price. It’s fair to say making that move might have ended up being the difference between the Broncos making it to the Super Bowl.
In a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos were in desperate need of a downfield threat. That could have been Waddle.
“The Broncos and a few other teams reached out to — and monitored — the Dolphins about WR Jaylen Waddle, but no deal will get done,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “Miami’s asking price was simply too high, per sources.”
Waddle has been one of the NFL’s best wide receivers since his rookie season and signed a 3-year, $84.75 million contract extension in March 2024. In 5 NFL seasons, Waddle has had over 1,000 receiving yards 3 times, including 75 receptions for a career high 1,356 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 2022.
In 2025, Waddle had 64 receptions for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns in 16 games.
Broncos Could Clean House at Wide Receiver
The addition of Waddle gives the Broncos 2 elite wide receivers with Sutton and Waddle and puts the rest of the wide receivers room on notice — mainly 3rd year wide receiver Troy Franklin and 2nd year wide receiver Pat Bryant. That’s not to mention 2-time NFL All-Pro return specialist Marvin Mims, who has also shown flashes of being an effective wide receiver.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton was particularly critical of his wide receivers following the end of the season, going so far as to say they didn’t know how to properly catch passes — literally going so far as to say they don’t know how to bring their thumbs together to make a catch.
As for most things with Payton, it wasn’t just words. He fired longtime offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, and also fired wide receivers coach Keary Colbert.
Broncos Make Blockbuster Trade for $84 Million Superstar WR