Waddle trade shakes AFC
The Dolphins traded WR Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos in a package that reportedly includes a first‑round pick — one of the biggest moves of this free‑agency window. Meanwhile veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Deebo Samuel remain unsigned and are top names still on the market (sports.yahoo.com) (espn.com).
Denver sent its 2026 first-round pick (No. 30 overall) plus its third- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 94 and 130) to Miami in exchange for Jaylen Waddle and Miami’s 2026 fourth-rounder (No. 111). (denverbroncos.com) Waddle is 27 years old, has three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 5,039 career receiving yards through five NFL seasons. (pro-football-reference.com) The receiver’s extension keeps him under contract through 2028 and projects a low 2026 cap charge relative to his production — Spotrac lists a 2026 cap hit of about $4.9 million and a 2026 cash number near $17.24 million. (spotrac.com) Denver’s front office and Sean Payton framed the move as a win‑now addition for quarterback Bo Nix, with analysts noting Waddle complements Courtland Sutton and the team’s young pass-catchers rather than replacing them. (espn.com) Financially, analysts give two different tallies for Miami’s post‑move ledger: independent calculations put the Dolphins’ 2026 dead‑cap commitments at more than $165 million, while other outlets cite figures topping $175 million after recent cuts and trades. (sportingnews.com) Despite Denver’s blockbuster acquisition, several high‑profile veterans remain unsigned entering the next wave of free‑agency work — ESPN’s list of the best remaining free agents still includes Aaron Rodgers and Deebo Samuel among the top available veterans. (espn.com)
