It’s the time of the year when executives are tucked into their office corners, agents are refreshing their phones, and reporters are piecing together the future of franchises between lukewarm coffees.
This year, one question followed the Miami Dolphins everywhere: Are they about to part ways with their stars? Because nothing says “new era” quite like a dramatic roster decision. And with general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley settling into their vision, the outside world has been bracing for bold strokes.
Inside the Miami Dolphins’ Plan for Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane
Let’s start with what the league chatter actually says: Miami is not looking to trade Jaylen Waddle or De’Von Achane.
In fact, insiders describe both players as core building blocks, the kind you circle in ink, not pencil. Waddle is signed through 2028. Achane is under contract through 2026. The Dolphins are even expected to explore extensions for Achane, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Expect the Dolphins to work on extensions this offseason for running back De’Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Miami is under new management and likely entering something of a rebuild. But along with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins view those three as core players and moving forward. Waddle is already signed long term, but the other three are free agents in 2027,” Fowler wrote.
And yet, the rumors won’t entirely go away. Because math exists.
Miami has roughly $4 million in cap space, which in NFL terms is like opening your wallet and watching a fly waft out. There’s also more than $28 million in dead money lingering from the release of Tyreek Hill. That kind of financial gravity makes every contract feel heavier.
Waddle’s deal, in particular, reads like a ticking clock to skeptics. His 2026 cap hit is a manageable $11.6 million, reasonable for a receiver who posted 64 catches, 910 yards, six touchdowns, and a PFSN WR Impact Score of 80.9 last season. But in 2027? That number jumps north of $33 million. The cold-blooded argument goes like this: trade him now, while his contract is still relatively team-friendly, and let someone else absorb the future spike.
It’s the sort of logic that sounds persuasive in a spreadsheet and slightly absurd when you remember he’s 27 and very good at football.
Achane’s situation is quieter but no less important. At 24, he’s the kind of player teams spend years hoping to draft. In 2025, he rushed for 1,350 yards, averaged 5.7 yards per carry, and scored 12 total touchdowns. He ranks second with a score of 84.5 on PFSN’s RB Impact metric. On an offense that occasionally sputtered, Achane was the spark plug that didn’t need jump-starting. Trading him would be less about strategy and more about surrender.
Of course, new leadership often comes with the temptation to redraw everything. The Dolphins could, in theory, move a star and stockpile assets for a multi-year reimagining.
But here’s the thing about rebuilds: they’re easier when you already have cornerstones. Waddle and Achane aren’t aging veterans clinging to a closing window. They are the window, young enough to still be ascending, experienced enough to stabilise whatever comes next.
