Dolphins Trade WR Jaylen Waddle to Broncos for 2026 1st-round
Frank Coyle/ Head scout
The Denver Broncos made a huge trade today acquiring Dolphin wideout Jaylen Waddle + 4th round pick for the Broncos #1, #3 and #4 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami receives Denver’s first-round pick (#30 overall) in April’s draft as well as the Broncos’ 3rd- and 4th-round picks, while the Dolphins are sending their own 4th-round pick to Denver along with Waddle.
The major deal represents the culmination of negotiations that began near last fall at the trade deadline. New Dolphin general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan continues to purge the Miami roster of high priced veterans. The Dolphins now have two #1 picks – #12 and #30 in the first round.
The Broncos have stayed interest in Waddle since the deadline passed on Nov 1st and were finally able to close the deal. Waddle leaves Miami for a Broncos team which believes it is only a few players from taking the next step to the Super Bowl. Denver won 14 games last season, earned the top seed in the conference and narrowly missed out on reaching Super Bowl LX after Bo Nix fractured his ankle at the end of their Divisional Round win.
It was a significant deal for Denver’s under coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton to take gambles in 2026. With Nix still under a rookie contract and the team’s talented offensive line and key defenders, the brain trust felt it was the time for Denver to bring in an impact weapon to get this offense a huge boost.
Waddle joins two-time Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton, and an assortment of other weapons to give this attack a critical addition.
Waddle was selected sixth overall in the 2021 draft and has lived up to the high expectations. His five-year career in Miami, he caught 373 passes for 5,039 yards and 26 TDs over 78 career regular-season games. His presence places the Broncos among the highest clubs in the AFC for the 2026 season.
