The Denver Broncos traded a first-round pick and additional selections to the Miami Dolphins for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick. The deal bolsters Denver's offense amid a Super Bowl push, while Miami continues its roster rebuild. CBS Sports graded the trade an A- for the Broncos and B+ for the Dolphins.
The Denver Broncos acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, sending their 2026 first-round pick (No. 30 overall), third-round pick (No. 94) and fourth-round pick (No. 130) in exchange for Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 111), according to multiple reports including CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Waddle, a former No. 6 overall pick, has recorded 373 catches for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns over five NFL seasons. In 2025, he caught 64 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns despite playing alongside Tyreek Hill for much of his career in Miami. He joins a Denver receiving corps that includes Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims, providing speed and screen-pass prowess to complement Bo Nix, who enters his third season on a rookie deal taking up minimal cap space (no more than 1.8% through 2027). The Broncos, who went 14-3 in 2025 to win the AFC West and reach the AFC Championship, view the trade as essential to contend now in a competitive AFC, especially with Nix's contract allowing aggressive moves before an expected extension. CBS Sports analyst Carter Bahns graded it A- for Denver, noting the upgrade for Nix's weapons amid an open Super Bowl window. For Miami, the trade nets valuable draft capital, including two first-round picks and seven selections in the first three rounds of the 2026 draft. The Dolphins, who parted ways with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Minkah Fitzpatrick, signed Malik Willis as quarterback but now field a youthful roster likely to prioritize future drafts like 2027's loaded quarterback class featuring prospects such as Arch Manning. CBS Sports graded Miami B+, acknowledging the rebuild haul despite the low-value trade partner.
