Broncos Acquire Jaylen Waddle from Dolphins

Denver still third favorite in AFC West despite high-profile trade

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:49am

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The Denver Broncos have acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins in a trade. While the move gives Denver's offense a boost, oddsmakers still view the Broncos as the third-favorite to win the AFC West division next season behind the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

Why it matters

The Broncos are looking to build on their run to the AFC Championship Game last season, and the addition of Waddle provides quarterback Bo Nix with another talented receiving option alongside Courtland Sutton. However, the Broncos still face an uphill battle in their division against the Chiefs and Chargers, who are considered the top contenders.

The details

In the trade, the Broncos are sending the Dolphins first-, third- and fourth-round picks, while also receiving a fourth-rounder from Miami. Waddle, 27, is coming off a season where he had 64 catches for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns. He will join a Broncos offense that was led by Sutton's 74 catches, 1,017 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025.

  • The trade was reported on March 18, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Waddle

A 27-year-old wide receiver who was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos.

Courtland Sutton

A two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Bo Nix

The starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

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What’s next

The Broncos will look to integrate Waddle into their offense as they prepare for the 2026 season and aim to challenge the Chiefs and Chargers for the AFC West title.

The takeaway

While the Broncos have made a high-profile move to acquire Jaylen Waddle, oddsmakers still view them as the third-favorite in the AFC West behind the Chiefs and Chargers. The Broncos will need to continue building a well-rounded roster to compete with the top teams in their division.