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The Miami Dolphins have reportedly traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a first-round, third-round and fourth-round picks, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero on Tuesday (March 17).
"Splash: The #Broncos are pulling off a post-free agency blockbuster by trading for #Dolphins star WR Jaylen Waddle, per me and @TomPelissero. Premium draft pick compensation is headed to Miami. The two teams started talking last year at the trade deadline and kept working. Now, a deal," Rapoport wrote on his X account.
Waddle, 27, was selected by the Dolphins at No. 6 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft after a decorated collegiate career at Alabama that was capped off with a College Football Playoff National Championship victory. The Texas native has recorded 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns during his five NFL seasons, which included a career-best 104 receptions as a rookie and 1,356 yards in 2022, as well as recording more than 1,000 yards during his first three seasons.
The Broncos were one win shy of a Super Bowl berth, having lost to the New England Patriots, 10-7, in the AFC Championship Game without quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a fractured ankle during the AFC Divisional Round. Waddle will join a Denver passing attack that already includes Pro Bowl wide receiver Cameron Sutton and former Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram.
The Dolphins, who hired former Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager in January, had previously traded away wide receiver Tyreek Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the offseason.