Speed receiver acquired by Denver from Miami in 2026 to give Bo Nix a true No. 1 target.
Jaylen Waddle spent four seasons in Miami as Tua Tagovailoa's most explosive target, including a 1,356-yard sophomore year. Miami's 2025 collapse and salary-cap reset led to a March 2026 trade that sent Waddle to the Broncos for a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third. Denver gets a deep threat to pair with Bo Nix.
Path to the league
Alabama national champion alongside Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Dolphins took him sixth overall in 2021. Set the NFL rookie record for receptions (104) on a team that went 9-8. Made the Pro Bowl in 2022 after a 1,356-yard sophomore season.
Career highlights
2022 Pro Bowl. 2021 NFL rookie record for receptions (104). 2017 CFP National Champion (Alabama). 5,200-plus career receiving yards. Career 14.5 yards per reception.
2025 season and trade
58 catches for 740 yards in 14 Miami games. Concussion issues for Tua limited the offense all season. Traded to Denver in March 2026 in a deal that also sent a 2027 third-round pick to the Dolphins. Bo Nix's return from his ankle injury plus a healthy Waddle gives the Broncos a top-10 passing offense projection.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jaylen Waddle
- Pro Football Reference: Jaylen Waddle
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
16 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | dolphins | 16 | 64 | 910 | 14.2 | 6 | 46 |
| 2024 | dolphins | 15 | 58 | 744 | 12.8 | 2 | 63 |
| 2023 | dolphins | 14 | 72 | 1,014 | 14.1 | 4 | 60 |
| 2022 | dolphins | 17 | 75 | 1,356 | 18.1 | 8 | 84 |
| 2021 | dolphins | 16 | 104 | 1,015 | 9.8 | 6 | 57 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | dolphins | 16 | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 0 | 21 |
| 2024 | dolphins | 15 | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | dolphins | 14 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2022 | dolphins | 17 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 0 | 9 |
| 2021 | dolphins | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Alabama
- Hometown
- Houston, TX, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
Latest news about Jaylen Waddle
All news →AI Predicts Every Week 1 Game of the 2026 NFL Season
Touchdown Week's model went 26 of 49 on preseason winners. Now the picks that count: a projected score, win probability and confidence rating for all 16 Week 1 games, from the Super Bowl rematch in Seattle to Mahomes' return on Monday night.
Bo Nix Throws TD in Return From Broken Ankle
The Broncos quarterback went 6 of 9 for 76 yards, connecting with new receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back RJ Harvey, in his first game action since fracturing his ankle in last season's playoffs.
Packers Rout Broncos 33-13 in Preseason Week 2
Green Bay Packers 33, Denver Broncos 13 at Empower Field at Mile High. Kyle McCord went 12 of 19 for 118 yards.
J.K. Dobbins wants to reward the Broncos and run them to a Super Bowl
Denver made re-signing Dobbins a priority. He returns from a foot injury with a two-year deal and one goal: stay on the field for all 17 games and power a win-now offense.
Bo Nix says he's on track for training camp, explains second ankle surgery was for bone spurs
The Broncos quarterback needed a second procedure on his right ankle to clean up bone spurs. He says the medical team has cleared him as 'good as new' and he expects to be ready when camp opens.
Did the Broncos rewrite the salary cap rulebook by cutting Russell Wilson?
Denver swallowed a record dead money charge to move on from Russell Wilson in 2024. Two years later, the league appears to be following its lead.
