The Denver Broncos made a blockbuster move to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. The update sent the NFL buzzing in many ways, with many analysts raving about the move. However, not everyone is convinced the deal will transform Denver’s offense.
Analyst Skip Bayless offered a strong critique of the move, questioning whether Waddle has ever proven himself as a true No. 1 option.
Why Skip Bayless Doubts Jaylen Waddle as a No. 1 Receiver
During a recent segment of “The Arena: Gridiron” podcast, Bayless explained why he has never viewed Waddle as a primary receiver, pointing to his time alongside Tyreek Hill in Miami.
“I hadn’t thought about Jaylen Waddle because I don’t think a lot about Jaylen Waddle because he was a clear-cut number two in Miami to Tyreek [Hill],” said Bayless. “And last year when Tyreek went down in week four, if you look down the game log for Jaylen Waddle after he [Tyreek] went down, he did virtually nothing. And even when Miami caught fire, remember they caught fire at the end of the year and had that little win streak.”
Bayless’ argument centers on the idea that Waddle failed to elevate his production when given a larger opportunity, particularly during stretches when Hill was unavailable. He went on to break down Waddle’s statistical output, suggesting it never reached the level expected from a top receiver.
“And all through it, he didn’t play in the game where they upset Tampa Bay, which was a huge loss for the Bucs,” Bayless said.
He continued, “But over the last 11 games, he caught four balls a game for 66 yards. So he didn’t tear it up. He didn’t say, ‘now it’s my team, now I’m the man.’ Because he was never the man, and he never lived up to being the sixth overall pick. And all I know for sure is that Jaylen Waddle has never made a Pro Bowl. And you’re telling me he put you over the top, as a number one.”
.@RealSkipBayless disagrees with @AqibTalib21 on Waddle being a huge get for the Broncos.
“I don’t think a lot about Jaylen Waddle because he was a clear cut #2, and when Tyreek went out, he did virtually nothing. He never lived up to being the No. 6 overall pick.” pic.twitter.com/qxZWuzREM6
— The Arena: Gridiron (@ArenaGridiron) March 20, 2026
“I don’t know for sure if he’s that guy. He’s really good, but is he great? Is he a difference maker? Is he a life changer? Is he that dude where you just said, oh, well, it’s over. We got that guy,” Bayless added.
Speaking of A.J. Brown, he said, “If you got A.J. Brown, I’d say, man, I fear A.J. Brown because he’s in a bad place, bad situation right now, and he could just bust out somewhere else. If he went to, I don’t know, Buffalo or wherever, New England, A.J. would just bust out because he could have something to prove, and he has more explosive ability than I have seen from Jaylen Waddle consistently.”
Bayless compared Waddle to other elite receivers, arguing that while Waddle is productive, he has not shown the consistent dominance expected from a franchise-changing player.
Waddle’s Playoff Performances and Career Trajectory Under Scrutiny
Bayless also referenced Waddle’s postseason performances and overall career arc to support his stance. Bayless argued that Waddle’s most productive season came under ideal circumstances and that he has not replicated that level since.
“So Jaylen Waddle’s played in two playoff games, and go look, he caught two balls and three balls in the two playoff games. And I know they lost them badly and all that, but whatever. He just never…caught my eye… It was Mike McDaniel’s first year there, where the league couldn’t figure out what he was doing. It was Tyreek’s first year in Miami, and Tyreek exploded for 1700 yards. And Jaylen Waddle had 1300 by far his best year because they were just dazzling the NFL. They were just bamboozling the NFL. Nobody could figure out how to cover both of them at the same time,” said Bayless.
Despite the skepticism, Denver made a huge investment, sending multiple draft picks to acquire the 27-year-old receiver. The move signals the Broncos’ belief that Waddle can play a larger role in their offense, potentially as a top target for quarterback Bo Nix under head coach Sean Payton.
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Waddle now joins a team coming off a strong season, with a solid defense and a young signal-caller still developing. The change of scenery could provide him with a fresh opportunity to redefine his role.
If Waddle can deliver consistent production and elevate Denver’s passing attack, the trade could be viewed as a masterstroke. If not, voices like Bayless’ will only grow louder.
