How Jaylen Waddle trade could backfire for Denver Broncos

Wait 5 sec.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain•Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesAdd The Sporting News on GoogleThe Miami Dolphins gave up a whole lot to bring wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to town. Three picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a first-rounder, to be exact. Clearly, the organization believes that the addition will be worth the high sticker price. But, what if things don't work out that way? Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon covered that possibility in a recent article examining how the biggest moves of the offseason could potentially backfire. He pointed to the high price the Broncos paid to land Waddle, combined with his lack of experience as a lead receiver, as reasons why the deal might not work out exactly the way that Broncos fans hope. "That's a lot of lost draft capital for a guy who has rarely been relied on as a No. 1 receiver," Gagnon wrote. "The five-year veteran has just one season with 1,100 yards or more than six touchdowns, but he'll cost $27.1 million against the cap in 2027. This is a big change that may not have been necessary, and could potentially do more harm than good." This story will be updated. More NFL news: Baker Mayfield sends clear message regarding his future with Tampa Bay BuccaneersJared Verse gets brutally honest about trade from Rams to BrownsDallas Cowboys urged to trade edge rusher before start of 2026 NFL seasonMyles Garrett sends message to Cleveland Browns fans after trade to RamsA.J. Brown sends goodbye message to Eagles fans after trade to PatriotsMichael Kaskey-BlomainMichael Kaskey-Blomain is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an experienced sportswriter and media member with over a decade in the industry. He has covered the NBA and NFL for a variety of outlets, including CBS Sports, 247 Sports, FanSided and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Michael grew up just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and currently resides in Philadelphia.