The 2025 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the Denver Broncos chose not to make a deal. Many fans within Broncos Country were expecting a move to be made, but the team chose to stand pat.
Broncos 9News insider Mike Klis reported that the Broncos “were in” on some players but deemed that the asking prices were too high. Benjamin Allbright of KOA discussed one player who was connected to the Broncos, Jaylen Waddle, stating that the Miami Dolphins were looking for a “first-round pick plus more” in return.
If that is true, it’s just ridiculous.
Perhaps the Dolphins weren’t really interested in moving one of their top playmakers and if they did, they were looking for a team to overpay. The Dolphins used the No. 6 overall pick on Waddle in 2021 and he is only 26 years old, so it’s understandable that the team wants a solid return. But even one first-round pick is pushing it.
The Broncos could have used the speedy Waddle to open up a new element of the offense while giving Bo Nix another legitimate option to get the ball to. The Broncos had the right idea, but not overpaying for him was the right decision.
Payton on no trades. “We like this group and where we’re going.”
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) November 4, 2025
As suggested here, a third-round pick would have been more like it in exchange for Waddle. That is clearly far less than the Dolphins were looking for, but when looking to make a trade, you’re still looking for a bargain while trying to improve the roster simultaneously.
Draft picks are among the most precious commodities an NFL team has. To give away multiple picks for a player is often a major mistake. Offering the Dolphins a second-round pick would have been as far as Sean Payton and George Paton were willing to go. To give away a first-pick “plus more” would have been borderline malpractice.
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