Jaylen Waddle's Dramatic Battle Against the Broncos Unlikely to Miss Your Streaky Sunday!
With speedy wideout heading to Denver, expect Broncos QB Nix and WR Courtland Sutton to be impacted in the aftermath. Monitor the draft, too.
Just when it appeared NFL free agency had died down – and it’s a fair assessment given most of the big names have signed new contracts – the league unleashes another sizable curveball, this time in the form of another blockbuster trade . The Miami Dolphins agreed on March 17 to deal WR Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos in a package that also sent a first- and third-round pick from Denver back to South Florida. What does the offseason’s latest bombshell mean for a rebooting club and another that fell just shy of the Super Bowl last season – and even more broadly than that?
The winners and losers from Tuesday’s Waddle swap: WINNERS Jaylen Waddle A premier player who’s averaged better than 1,000 receiving yards during his five NFL seasons – despite predominantly playing second banana to Tyreek Hill in Miami – Waddle will now likely become a centerpiece of Denver’s attack, which has been on the periphery of the top 10 league-wide in coach Sean Payton’s three seasons in the Rockies. Bo Nix Heading into his third season – and with his team squarely in a Super Bowl window after their recent run to the AFC championship game ( which injured Nix had to miss ) – the Broncos ’ QB1 should now enjoy a game-breaking element this attack hasn’t really had the past two years. And make no mistake – while Nix entered the NFL with a reputation as a checkdown guy, he’s got more than enough arm to fully leverage Waddle’s deep speed.
Davis Webb Denver’s new offensive coordinator and play caller should also benefit from a shiny new toy that Payton hasn’t had at his disposal recently. And given the reputation for creativity Webb brings to his new role, oughta be fun to see how he can unleash Waddle. Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley Miami’s nascent brain trust – Sullivan the newly hired GM and Hafley the head coach, both imports from the Green Bay Packers – gets some added juice for what is an obvious rebuild.
The win-loss record may not be pretty in 2026, when the Dolphins will also be working off most of their Tua Tagovailoa salary cap debt . But owning three of the draft’s top 43 picks should provide a needed infusion of youth and talent with brighter days hopefully ahead. 2026 NFL draft's wide receivers The supply at the position is regarded as plentiful this year.