Jaylen Waddle trade details: Dolphins deal star WR to Broncos in blockbuster move
Jacob CamenkerThe Denver Broncos are making a splash move to improve their receiver room for the 2026 NFL season.
The Broncos are acquiring Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, according to multiple reports. Miami will receive a package of draft assets, including Denver's 2026 first-round pick, in exchange for the veteran receiver.
Waddle spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Dolphins after being selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Alabama product posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to open his career and paired with Tyreek Hill for four seasons to create one of the NFL's fastest wide receiver duos.
Waddle played in 16 games during the 2025 NFL season. The 27-year-old caught 64 passes and generated a team-best 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns while catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers.
Now, Waddle will look to be similarly productive while catching passes from Bo Nix and serving as a much-needed speed complement across from Courtland Sutton.
Here's what to know about the Waddle trade between the Dolphins and Broncos.
Jaylen Waddle trade details
Broncos get:
- WR Jaylen Waddle
- 2026 fourth-round pick
Dolphins get:
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2026 fourth-round pick
Jaylen Waddle stats
Waddle hasn't posted a 1,000-yard season since 2023, but the 27-year-old speedster has averaged better than 1,000 yards per season across his five-year career to date.
Waddle has never made a Pro Bowl but he did lead the NFL in average yards per reception (18.1) during the 2022 season. Below is a full look at Waddle's career stats:
- Games: 78
- Targets: 544
- Receptions: 373
- Receiving yards: 5,039
- Receiving TDs: 26
- Yards per reception: 13.5
- Carries: 14
- Rushing yards: 81
- Rushing TDs: 1
Waddle graded as Pro Football Focus' 10th-best receiver for the 2025 NFL season and posted a passer rating of 85 when targeted.
Jaylen Waddle contract details
Waddle is in the first season of a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension he signed with the Dolphins during the 2024 NFL offseason. Below are the full terms of his contract:
- Term: 3 years
- Total value: $84.75 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $28.25 million
- Guaranteed money: $76 million
The Broncos will owe Waddle just over $68.6 million in cash over the remaining three years of his contract, per Spotrac.com. He will carry a cap hit of just $4.9 million in 2026 while the Dolphins will take on a $23.2 million dead-cap hit after trading him, costing the team just under $11.6 million in cap space.
Broncos WR depth chart
Waddle figures to immediately slot in as Denver's No. 2 receiver across from Sutton, whose size and physicality should pair well with the smaller, faster Waddle.
Below is a look at the projected pecking order within Denver's receiver room:
- Courtland Sutton
- Jaylen Waddle
- Troy Franklin
- Pat Bryant
- Marvin Mims Jr.
- Lil'Jordan Humphrey
- Michael Bandy
Dolphins WR depth chart
Miami's wide receiver room is in flux after the team traded Waddle and cut both Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine during the 2026 NFL offseason. Below is a look at the current state of their receiver room:
- Malik Washington
- Jalen Tolbert
- Tutu Atwell
- Terrace Marshall Jr.
- Theo Wease Jr.
- Tahj Washington
- AJ Henning
Malik Washington is the only player to have suited up for greater than 50% of his team's offensive snaps last season.
Dolphins draft picks 2026
The Dolphins figure to add to their receiver room at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft. They are now armed with 11 selections in April's draft, including two first-rounders. Here's a full list of Miami's picks:
- Round 1, Pick 11
- Round 1, Pick 30
- Round 2, Pick 43
- Round 3, Pick 75
- Round 3, Pick 87
- Round 3, Pick 90
- Round 3, Pick 94
- Round 4, Pick 130
- Round 5, Pick 151
- Round 7, Pick 227
- Round 7, Pick 238
(This story will be updated as more details become available.)