Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos receiver.
It’s another day, another trade in the NFL as the Miami Dolphins agreed to deal the star receiver to the Broncos in exchange for a collection of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move drastically transforms the outlook for Sean Payton’s offense, which led to the team’s elimination in each of the last two postseasons.
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Waddle will join the likes of Courtland Sutton atop the receiving depth chart in Denver, but leaves behind a barren one in Miami.
TRADE GRADES: Who won the Jaylen Waddle trade?
The Dolphins made a statement with this trade, which has been an offseason of clear messaging. Miami wasted no time tearing down the roster that has underachieved in recent years. Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Waddle have all been given a one-way ticket out of Miami.
It is the complete opposite message coming out of Denver. The Broncos are going for it and loading up on offense, hoping this move puts the team over the top.
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Here’s a look at how Waddle fits with the Broncos and the new-look depth chart in Denver.
How does Jaylen Waddle fit with the Broncos?
Waddle’s fit with the Broncos is seamless.
Already a proven star, he figures to be a great option for Bo Nix in the passing attack. Waddle is a quarterback-friendly receiver with speed that makes him a big threat after the catch. During his best season in 2022, he ranked third in the NFL amongst wide receivers with an average of 6.8 yards after catch.
Waddle produced a trio of 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, but hasn’t hit that number in the two since. While that may seem concerning on the surface, the drop-off in production coincided with the Dolphins’ regression as a team. The 27-year-old should return to form now that the conditions around him have improved.
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More importantly, Nix can have plenty of success connecting with Waddle and trusting the receiver to do the rest. It provides real balance to an offense that will no longer have to rely on the size of Sutton or the rotating cast of receivers like Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant to complement him.
While Sutton has been a fine piece for Denver’s offense, there is an argument to be made that Waddle is a better fit for someone like Nix, since the quarterback does a lot of damage around the line of scrimmage. The newest Bronco can thrive in the short-to-intermediate passing attack, while Sutton excels as a downfield weapon.
Waddle’s game-breaking ability was on full display with the Dolphins’ track team-style offense. He might just be the missing piece for the Broncos.
Broncos WR depth chart
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Waddle should assume the top spot on the Broncos’ depth chart, but those top two spots are mostly interchangeable. The intrigue centers around what will happen behind them.
It remains to be seen if Franklin, Bryant and Mims are safe at this stage of the offseason. One of them could become expendable in a trade, since Denver currently has an excess of capable receivers.
Finding playing time for all of them would prove to be difficult, but there are plenty of moving parts during the early stages of the offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos WR depth chart: How Jaylen Waddle fits after Dolphins trade
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