The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins made a blockbuster trade on Monday morning involving wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins sent Waddle and a fourth-round pick to the Broncos in exchange for a first-round, third-round, and fourth-round pick.
With the Broncos in go-mode and the Dolphins in rebuilding mode, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky grades the trade.
Dan Orlovsky Loves the Broncos-Dolphins Jaylen Waddle Trade
While a first and third round pick seems like a high price to pay, Orlovsky believes Waddle is the “missing piece” for Denver.
“(I) absolutely love this for Denver. It was the really missing piece for their football team, specifically on offense – speed wide receiver,” Orlovsky said. “Bo Nix really entering a massive year, coming off of a really good year last year.”
“So, they have Courtland Sutton, who is a big-bodied receiver, and then they have some good players – Troy Fronklin, Pat Bryant, Mims is a little bit of a specialty kind of guy – so they needed a real wide receiver, a true wide receiver with speed. There’s Jaylen Waddle, so I love that for Denver.”
Waddle will be entering his sixth year in the NFL in 2026, and he’s had three 1,000-yard seasons.
The former Dolphins receiver led the NFL in yards per reception in 2022 (18.1) and is regarded as one of the fastest wide receivers in the league.
While the Broncos have Courtland Sutton, the wide receiver depth behind him wasn’t very impressive before the Waddle addition.
Sutton paced the team with 1,017 receiving yards last season, and receiver Troy Franklin was second on the team with 709 yards. However, the next closest receiver was Pat Bryant with 378 yards.
Mims, who dealt with injuries throughout the season, had just 322 yards on the year.
Now, the Broncos get a true No. 2 receiver, or 1A and 1B, in Sutton and Waddle. Orlovsky believes the Broncos are the team to beat in their division.
“I think Denver was a top 3 or 4 team in the AFC, even in this moment right now, they’re very much so still in that mix,” Orlovsky said. “I think that’s the team to beat in the division as well, the AFC West.”
While Orlovsky loved Denver’s end of the trade, he was also a big fan of the move for the Dolphins.
“I love it for Miami. You got to admit who you are, you’re very much so rebuilding,” Orlovsky said. “You need as many assets as possible under this new regime. Waddle’s a really nice player. He’s coming off of a season, even with the bad situations at quarterback, (with) 64 catches, over 900 yards, six touchdowns.”
“But Miami’s looking towards the future, specifically with Malik Willis becoming quarterback there. I love it for both parts, but this is a huge pickup for Denver.”
The Dolphins are now set with draft capital for their rebuild, and the Broncos have an offense that looks poised to compete with the best in the AFC.
