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Jaylen Waddle issued a response amid trade rumors
The Miami Dolphins offseason is in full swing. Under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, the team has already made drastic decisions, including releasing All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill. While the move may have come across as a shock to fan bases around the league, the decision had been widely expected once Hill suffered a devastating knee injury. With a $51 million cap hit looming, retaining a receiver who is soon to be 32 years old and coming off a dislocated knee did not make much sense for a team that is likely looking to rebuild.
Miami did not stop there, as they also announced they would release pass rusher Bradley Chubb. Chubb’s status had been up in the air this offseason. He was set to carry a $31 million cap hit in the 2026 season, but unlike Hill, Chubb stayed healthy and performed well for the Dolphins last season. Chubb led the Dolphins with 8.5 sacks last season. Prior to the 2025 season, Chubb took a substantial pay cut to remain with the Dolphins. Whether the Dolphins asked him to do so again has not been revealed.
After the moves, some speculated that more Dolphins players could be on the move. If they were not released, the team could seek draft compensation for them. Now, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has issued an answer to trade rumors.
Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle Issues Response
A parody account on X posted a message that said, “Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle reportedly told the Dolphins front office “me next” after the release of Bradley Chubb and Tyreek Hill. Things are not looking good in Miami.” Because many people did not notice the post was made from a parody account, it received more than a million views.
Thankfully for Dolphins fans, Waddle put an end to the speculation as he posted the cap emoji, representing that the report was false. The Dolphins wide receiver had previously been in trade rumors during the 2025 season, which saw division rival Buffalo Bills try to acquire Waddle in exchange for a first-round pick.
The Dolphins declined, and Bills general manager Brandon Beane believed Miami had never really entertained the thought of sending Waddle to Buffalo. He said, “They never really countered back to us. So you never really know, was he really available? Was he not? Or were you just going to have to go to a deal that they just, you know, was so unbelievable that there’s no way they could turn it down. I don’t know. When you don’t get a counter back, it’s hard to truly know how willing or not they were willing to move the player.”
Jaylen Waddle’s Future
While Waddle made it clear that he did not express that he wanted a trade, the Dolphins may still opt to move the star receiver if they receive a strong offer. However, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has previously praised the player, as he said, “Jaylen Waddle is as explosive of an athlete [as you will see]. His ability to create separation at the top of his route is as good as any.”
Waddle is under contract with the Dolphins through the 2028 season. However, his cap hit rises from $11 million in 2026 to $33 million in 2027. He signed the extension prior to the 2024 season, as he was coming off three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the team. Following his contract extension, Waddle has failed to reach the 1,000-yard barrier in two seasons.
If the Dolphins do not have a strong start to the 2026 season, Waddle may wind up on the trading block.
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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