The Denver Broncos left little to the imagination with what they expect from superstar wide receiver Jaylen Waddle — trading their 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, and 2026 4th-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for him on March 17 delivered the message loud and clear.
For the Broncos, the only regret to this point is that they didn’t trade for Waddle sooner. It was their lack of an effective wide receiver that kept them from making the Super Bowl following the 2025 season.
Now, headed into his 1st season in Denver, the Locked on Broncos podcast asserts that Waddle will be under as much pressure as anyone on the roster in 2026.
From Locked on Broncos: “The pressure on Jaylen Waddle in his first year with the Denver Broncos is tremendous … not just for what he can bring to the offense, but for how he can help the defense. Jaylen Waddle’s presence this offseason and throughout training camp, and the ability to live up to these lofty expectations because, well, it affects everybody on this team.”
Jaylen Waddle Could Be ‘Rising Tide’ for Broncos
The old proverb “a rising tide lifts all boats” seems apt for what Waddle should bring to the Broncos — the proverbial star who makes everyone around him better.
While the Broncos are all set on defense and their offense was improved in 2025, it’s impossible to say they were ever truly elite — incredible considering they went 14-3 last season and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs.
The Broncos almost made a blockbuster trade for Waddle at the 2025 trade deadline but balked at the price. It’s fair to say that making that move might have ended up being the difference between the Broncos making it to the Super Bowl.
It was their failings at wide receiver that eventually sank them in a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Playing without injured starting quarterback Bo Nix (fractured ankle), the Broncos couldn’t seem to get the ball downfield to any of their passing targets with backup Jarrett Stidham getting the start — a swirling snowstorm didn’t help much, either.
The loss seemed to trigger something in Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who made his distaste with the receivers public following the loss to the Patriots, and that no doubt played a large part in the firing of both offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert.
Broncos Could Pay Big Money for Jaylen Waddle
While Waddle is under contract through 2028 on the 3-year, $84.75 million contract extension he signed before the 2024 season, it’s hard to see him not receiving some sort of extension or reworked contract with a big year in 2026. It could be a deal that would make him 1 of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers — something in the range of $30 million to $40 milliion per year.
Waddle, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has spent the majority of his career putting up big numbers in the shadow of NFL All-Pro Tyreek Hill.
In 5 NFL seasons, Waddle has had over 1,000 receiving yards 3 times, including 75 receptions for a career high 1,356 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 2022.
In 2025, Waddle had 64 receptions for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns in 16 games.
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