On Tuesday, the Jaylen Waddle trade, which sent a fourth-round pick to Denver in exchange for the Broncos’ first, third, and fourth-round picks, made headlines across the league. This provides Bo Nix and the Denver offense ammunition for another deep playoff run, and makes it abundantly clear that Miami values draft capital over current superstars.
Waddle was a fan favorite and a three-time 1,000-yard receiver during his first three years in the league. Coupled with Tyreek Hill, Waddle formed into one of the most dynamic speed threats in the NFL. Waddle is also the latest in a slew of roster moves the Dolphins have made this offseason–that includes exchanging Tua for Malik Willis, releasing veterans Bradley Chubb and Alec Ingold, and trading Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Jets. Which I’m still sour about.
Still, the trade signifies a complete, total rebuild in South Beach under the Hafley-Sullivan regime. Here’s what the Jaylen Waddle trade means long-term.
By acquiring Denver’s first, third, and fourth round picks, the Dolphins have solidified their approach to rebuilding the franchise. They have seven picks in the first three rounds; the more picks, the better chances of getting a positive-impact player. Rebuilding through the draft is always a viable option; we’ve seen many a team find its footing with a few good drafts over the years.
The thing is, it takes time for most players to develop. Especially if Jon-Eric Sullivan wants to draft a quarterback “every year”, which seems good in principle, but its execution can lead to a muddled QB room. Signing Malik Willis as a bridge quarterback or even a mid-range starter was the safe, albeit expensive move. We’ll find out on Draft Day whether the quarterback succession will start this year or next.
Sullivan’s exercise in patience will be measured in wins–not short term, but long term. If Miami can nail its drafts over the next few years, we could see a return to resurgence. If not? We could see another rebuild.
With Waddle gone, De’Von Achane remains the last man standing in terms of offensive starpower. Achane rushed for a career-high 1350 yards in 2025 and led the league with 5.7 YPC while making his first Pro Bowl. A dual-threat running back in the run and passing game, Achane can be a game-changer.
But that doesn’t mean he’s a Dolphin lifer. If Achane could net the Dolphins a second or even a first-rounder, I would expect Sullivan and Co. to look into trading him.
Why? See Point One. Running backs are a dime a dozen and have a short shelf life, as unfortunate as it is. Miami’s already got Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright behind Achane. If Miami can find Achane’s replacement in the draft, he might be worth the trade. As with Waddle, it would be sad to see him go, but understandable.
In fact, trade talks surrounding Achane have started bubbling in the NFL’s water cooler.
With Waddle gone, it’s safe to say the Dolphins’ offense will undergo an identity change. Miami’s offense predicated itself on a West Coast Hybrid scheme, establishing the run with short-medium throws to Hill and Waddle. The offense mitigated Tua Tagovailoa’s flaws–to an extent–but the deep ball was nonexistent save for the underthrown 30-yard go route to Waddle.
Willis was brought in to replace Tua. He’s a mobile playmaker at the QB position, not a gunslinger by any means, but an arm stronger than Tua’s. His mechanics are still developing, and I could expect Miami’s newfound offense to play into that. Waddle’s most effective as a deep ball threat, and with Willis still in development, I don’t imagine Miami going deep very often.
Should Miami keep Achane, they could rely on the three-headed backfield that includes Gordon and Wright to develop an effective power run game. Waddle to Denver makes sense for both parties involved. Bo Nix gets a solid deep threat while Miami rebrands itself.
Those three picks Denver gave up to acquire Waddle could turn out big for Miami’s rebuilding efforts. As with all things, time will tell. As painful as it was to lose Waddle, I call it a necessary evil in Miami’s attempt to carve out a potential Super Bowl-contending team in the future.
That’s just me externally coping while internally crying.
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