After a very slow start to free agency, the Broncos finally made a huge splash.
Denver is trading for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick for its first-, third- and fourth-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Jaylen Waddle knew of Broncos’ interest, says reuniting with Pat Surtain II is ‘special’
The trade gives third-year quarterback Bo Nix another weapon on offense. Waddle, 27, had 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns for Miami last season.
Here’s a look at how national media outlets graded it:
The Athletic (Grade: B+): “Credit the Broncos for the aggressive move after a surprise run to the AFC Championship Game. There’s no one comparable to Waddle on the free-agent market, and he’s better positioned to make an impact in 2026 than anyone Denver could have taken at the end of the first round,” Jeff Howe writes. Read the full analysis.
CBS Sports (Grade: A-): “Free agency left Broncos fans with little reason for excitement, as their team was the only one to not sign a player from outside the building. How quickly the narrative can change. Denver made one of the most aggressive trades of the offseason with a move that should give those in the Mile High City hope that their offense will take a leap forward in 2026,” Carter Bahns writes. Read the full analysis.
SB Nation (Grade: A): “The Broncos have a vision here, and we do appreciate that. They like the team that was one game away from Super Bowl LX, saw a way to improve that team for 2026, and have paid the price they needed to pay,” Mark Schofield writes. Read the full analysis.
The Sporting News (Grade: A): “Although Denver was well-positioned for some good WR talent at No. 30 overall in the first round, the team felt more comfortable with much more experienced Waddle in their offense. With Davis Webb taking play-calling duties from Sean Payton and Bo Nix coming off an ankle injury, Webb now has a key short-area target to draw coverage attention and complement the field-stretching outside,” Vinnie Iyer writes. Read the full analysis.
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Sports Illustrated (Grade: A): “The Broncos must push all their chips in on swinging for the Super Bowl fences in 2026 and 2027. Waddle’s arrival improves the Broncos’ chances of winning the Big One while Nix is still cheap,” Chad Jensen writes. Read the full analysis.
USA Today (Grade: B+): “Denver had fished around for Waddle during last season, per multiple reports, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Even amid Miami’s wider woes, the 2022 first-rounder remained one of the league’s most dangerous big-play threats both as a run-after-catch threat and a vertical weapon. With his ability to generate chunk gains and open up the attack, it’s difficult to find a better running mate for the reliable yet limited (Courtland) Sutton,” Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz writes. Read the full analysis.
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