Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle | Rich Storry-Imagery Images

We Tried to Build the Perfect Sports City and Failed Spectacularly

When Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Broncos, it made sense for the Miami Dolphins. The only question that seemed to linger for the fans was why the trade happened at all.

Jon-Eric Sullivan was able to get a first and third-round draft pick for his top receiver and a swap of 4th-round selections. The value was good for a rebuilding team, but it doesn’t sound like he was all that thrilled about making the deal.

Sullivan sat down with Mike Florio and Chris Simms of Pro-Football Talk and talked about why Waddle was moved.

Miami Dolphins GM knew that Jaylen Waddle wasn’t going to be around for the rebuild.
Sullivan made it clear that while it was hard to watch Waddle leave, it was the best opportunity for the Dolphins and for Waddle himself. Miami got the draft picks they needed, and Waddle gets a chance to improve an AFC contender.

“We have to get younger and cheaper. Jaylen is a really good player. Jaylen’s 27 years old, he’s going to want a new contract, WR market is going up. By the time we hit our stride, I didn’t know that made a lot of sense for us.”
Jon-Eric Sullivan

The Dolphins GM is 100% correct in his assessment of the situation with Waddle. The Dolphins were never going to give him a third contract, and by the time the team was ready to start turning that corner, Waddle’s time in Miami would have been wasted.

That isn’t how he feels about De’Von Achane, who is only 24 years old. Achane is considered an important piece in the Dolphins’ rebuild. Three years from now, he will still be younger than Waddle.

What is interesting, however, is that Jordyn Brooks is currently 28. Sullivan has said he hopes to get an extension done to stick with the Dolphins, but in three seasons, he will be past that dreaded 30-year-old corner.

Sullivan has admitted to taking calls on the linebacker, and considering he was not part of the Aaron Brewer/Achane contract changes, you have to wonder if he is on the block more than we know.