As Jaylen Waddle approaches the end of his rookie deal and his extension kicks in next year, if the team is trending downward like they are playing, it may not be wise for them to pay a receiver like that as they look to accumulate young talent and draft picks. With just one win in their first seven games and a severe injury to fellow WR Tyreek Hill, they should be taking any calls that teams are making to them for anyone this season.
Waddle has been solid since the Dolphins drafted him sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has kept his per-reception average right around his career average of 13.5 yards per catch, so I don’t think there has been any regression. However, playing in a stagnant offense will limit anyone’s upside.
Here are four teams that should be calling the Dolphins for the veteran wideout.
1) Buffalo Bills
While the Bills have some decent options at receiver, they don’t have a true alpha at the position like when Stefon Diggs called Buffalo home, and having someone like Waddle come in would give them just that. Waddle had three seasons with over 1,000 yards to start his career, and then had 744 yards last year to break the streak, although he did miss two games, so I wouldn’t chalk it up to him getting any worse.
Buffalo could offer a young wide receiver and a draft pick. Getting a return on a young player who gets phased out for an established veteran would be a win in multiple regards. There are always unforeseen challenges in trading in the division, which would disappoint fans a bit extra, but it could be the way for the Dolphins to maximize their return.
2) New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are on the rise, and a lot has to do with the development and poise of quarterback Drake Maye. They got him a star wide receiver in Stefon Diggs, and he has flourished with him. Now, if they bring in another one, who knows what the potential of this offense is? It would behoove them to find out.
The Patriots remind me of the 2023 Texans. Why wouldn’t they trade for a player that can help now? They have the Qb, schedule, youth and momentum to do something great. The rookie contract term isn’t a guarantee they’ll be here again next year.
— Pat (@BrayallPatrick) October 21, 2025
When you are a team on the rise, and there is an opportunity to get a player like this for a mid-round pick, you take it each time. There is nobody in the third or fourth round that they could take next season that will make as much of an impact immediately as Waddle would.
3) New York Giants
Jaxson Dart is the future, and now, at the quarterback position. Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers were stellar draft picks, and the defense is legitimate. Now, they need to get Nabers a running mate on the outside. Waddle would speed the Giants’ timeline up immensely, and with him under contract for the foreseeable future, this team would be a dark horse candidate for me as soon as next season with Waddle on board.
4) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ roster situation is a bit perplexing to even them, I feel, as they could have run with Kirk Cousins, grabbed an immediate impact player at wide receiver, and let Cousins do what he was paid to do, but instead, they drafted another quarterback. Outside of Drake London, there is no real second option in the passing game, which is consistent game in and out. Adding Waddle would make the Falcons’ offense extremely dynamic and open up some more space for one of the most promising running backs in the league, Bijan Robinson.