Up until this weekend, the Miami Dolphins had been bullish about trading star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The 26-year-old wideout had been a popular name in trade discussions in recent weeks, but despite Miami falling to 2-7 with a 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, the team remained adamant about not wanting to deal away its best receiver.
However, general manager Chris Grier was fired on Friday, which seemingly changed the Dolphins’ stance on parting ways with the former sixth overall pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“Things have changed in Miami,” Rapoport stated. “Interim GM Champ Kelly and the rest of the team’s current brass are far more open to deals, sources say. While previously a question about wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was met with a hard ‘no,’ the team will now do its due diligence and at least consider offers for the star in his prime, sources say.
“Miami still would prefer to not trade Waddle, but the Dolphins are at least willing to weigh an offer that blows them away. Sources say the Dolphins would at least consider dealing Waddle. It would be expensive, as young stars in their prime are, but not off the table.”
Waddle has led the Dolphins in receiving in four of five games since Tyreek Hill went down with a season-ending leg injury. Through nine games, the Alabama alum has recorded 41 catches, 586 yards, and four touchdowns.
He currently ranks seventh in the NFL in receiving yards, 14th in touchdowns, and 17th in receptions. Since entering the league in 2021, Waddle has accumulated the 10th-most receiving yards.
Waddle started his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons, which earned him a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension last March. But with the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggling over the last season-and-a-half, Waddle’s production has noticeably dipped.
Teams that have been linked to Waddle in trade rumors in recent weeks include the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/dolphins-jaylen-waddle-trade-rumors-get-major-update-10977140
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