Even though free agency has begun to slow down, big moves are still being made in the NFL. The latest involves wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was traded from the Dolphins to the Broncos on Tuesday.
Waddle has been a productive pass catcher since entering the league as the sixth overall selection in the 2021 draft, but with Miami undergoing a major rebuild found himself on his way out. In turn, he was sent to Denver for first- and third-rounders as well a fourth-round pick exchange.
That trade compensation is something the rest of the league will also be interested in, including the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl runner-ups, after all, are also in the market for wide receiver help.
A trade like Tuesday’s further continues to shape said market.
Waddle, after all, is the latest wideout to be moved this offseason. Previously, D.J. Moore went from Chicago to Buffalo and Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh. In terms of compensation involved, the three trades look as follows:
Jaylen Waddle trade details:
Dolphins get: 1-30 (2026), 3-94 (2026), 4-130 (2026)
Broncos get: Jaylen Waddle, 4-111 (2026)
D.J. Moore trade details:
Bears get: 2-60 (2026)
Bills get: D.J. Moore, 5-165 (2026)
Michael Pittman Jr. trade details:
Colts get: 6-214 (2026)
Steelers get: Michael Pittman Jr, 7-230 (2026)
From a Patriots point of view, the Moore and Pittman Jr. trades have less relevance than this latest move involving Waddle. The new Broncos wideout, after all, compares the closest among the three to a player New England has been linked to for a while now, Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
The 27-year-old Waddle is a year younger than the 28-year-old Brown, but he has not had the same consistent production throughout his career. Sure, quarterback play has something to do with it — although Brown has also not benefitted from what one would conventionally call elite support in that regard — but the latter nonetheless brings unquestioned WR1 credentials to the equation. Waddle, meanwhile, was a high-end No. 2 in Miami.
Considering all that, and what Waddle netted his now-former team, it is no stretch of the imagination that Brown would fetch the Eagles a similar return. The circumstances are different in that particular case, both financially and in terms of player motivation to move, but Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman has stood firm on his high asking price and this latest trade affirms his asking price.
So far, the Patriots have not been willing to meet demands that reportedly also include a first-round draft choice. Of course, that does not necessarily mean the team is not ready to take big swings at the position.
In fact, New England already made some major moves at wide receiver this offseason. Stefon Diggs, their receiving leaders in 2025, was released after one season. In the meantime, former Packers wideout Romeo Doubs was brought aboard on a four-year, $68 million contract to presumably help replace Diggs’ production.
As executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf pointed out, however, the team will rely on all of its receiving talent.
“I think it’ll be a variety of guys,” Wolf said last week. “Steph moved around a lot in the offense, and we have some guys that are still here that we think can do more. Kayshon [Boutte] can certainly move around more than he did last year. Mack [Hollins] can play every position. Kyle [Williams] can play every position. And then [DeMario Douglas], when he was on the field this year, was very productive.
“So, we feel good about the group and the tight end group is kind of part of that as well. We’re excited to see what Josh [McDaniels] can put together for the offense.”
While the Patriots’ offensive coordinator has some tools to work with, the Patriots remain interested in Brown — a player who would give them a legitimate top-tier talent on the perimeter. That said, bringing him aboard will not be cheap even after his contract becomes more easily tradable for the Eagles on June 1.
Tuesday’s move involving Jaylen Waddle makes this quite clear.
