The Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos agreed to a blockbuster trade last week, a move involving wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Along with Waddle, Miami sent the Broncos a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (111th overall). The Dolphins received three 2026 picks back in the deal, a first-rounder (30th), a third-rounder (94th), and a fourth-rounder (130th).
Waddle was Miami’s first-round pick (6th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft. In his five seasons with the Dolphins, Waddle tallied 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns. He set his career high for receptions in his rookie season, catching 104 passes, while his sophomore effort led to a career high in receiving yards, 1,356, and touchdowns, eight. He also led the league in yards per reception that season with an 18.1 average.
He has always seemed to be on the brink of breaking out, but never quite took that step. When the Dolphins added wide receiver Tyreek Hill in 2022, Waddle settled in as the team’s second-option in the passing game. Now both players are gone as the Dolphins work to reset their salary cap situation and rebuild a team that floundered in 2025.
Our SB Nation Reacts poll this week asked for you to grade the Dolphins’ trade of Waddle to the Broncos. Simultaneously, Mile High Report, SB Nation’s Broncos team site, was asking its readers to grade the trade from a Broncos-fan perspective.
Dolphins and Broncos fans both support the trade
Both fan bases love the deal, according to the results. While the move pushed Miami even further from a division title, FanDuel Sportsbook moved them from +2700 to win the AFC East to +3000, the acquired draft picks will allow Miami to hasten its rebuild. The Broncos, who are in a tight AFC West division battle, are listed at +200 compared to the +180 odds for both the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers by FanDuel, improve on their 2025 roster. Denver finished first in the AFC in regular-season standings last year, but lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.
From the Broncos fan perspective, 60 percent of responses gave the trade an “A” grade, while 96 percent gave it an A or a B. Dolphins fans were not as enthused but were still highly positive. While 47 percent provided an A response, 82 percent answered either A or B.
Will Miami regret the trade of Waddle, or will the picks prove to be the catalyst that jump-starts the Dolphins? Will Waddle be the piece that pushes the Broncos beyond the AFC playoff bracket and into the Super Bowl? What did you rate the trade? Let us know if you agree with the results in the comments below.
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