Dolphins criticized by NFL exec for return from Broncos in Jaylen Waddle trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Dolphins have been reshuffling their entire roster this offseason, with a ton of key veterans from years past now gone after cuts and trades.
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While most were expected, the Jaylen Waddle trade with the Denver Broncos was a bit of a surprise. He’d been rumored to be on the market, but rumors died down a little before the trade was reported.
Miami got a first and a third from the Broncos, but according to one NFL executive in a piece from The Athletic’s Mike Sando, the Dolphins didn’t get enough in return for Waddle.
Dolphins criticized for Jaylen Waddle trade return
“And then I don’t think they got enough for Waddle,” this NFL executive said. “They got the equivalent of the 25th pick in the draft. It should have been a lot more.”
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Miami landed the 30th pick from the Broncos along with a late third-round pick in exchange for Waddle and a fourth-round pick swap.
Denver is landing a top receiver in Waddle, while the Dolphins are getting a few valuable picks. But this NFL executive believes Miami should’ve gotten more from the Broncos.
The Chicago Bears got a second-round pick for DJ Moore, and the AJ Brown trade rumors have fluctuated around a first-round pick plus-or-minus some value.
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MORE:Â Dolphins trade idea would land Dontayvion Wicks from Packers to replace Jaylen Waddle
Getting more value for Waddle in a trade with the Broncos would’ve been interesting. Maybe they acquire an extra Day 3 draft pick, or a 2027 third-rounder.
But another interesting angle could’ve been the acquisition of one of the Broncos’ wide receivers in Troy Franklin or Marvin Mims, both of whom will see a lot less work with Waddle in Denver.
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It’s not a bad trade for the Dolphins by any means, as a first-round pick is a valuable selection and the late-third isn’t a bad pick either. But this NFL exec believes there was meat left on the bone in this deal.
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