The Miami Dolphins are on the cusp of being sellers at the trade deadline after getting off to a 1-5 start, but would they really consider trading Jaylen Waddle?
Nothing can be ruled out when it comes to the NFL and bad teams selling at the trade deadline, so nobody can say definitively that the Dolphins won't deal their No. 1 wide receiver.
And a cryptic social media post from Waddle only fanned the flames of the rampant speculation surrounding the former first-round pick.
That said, based on reports out there, it doesn't look like a Waddle trade is in the cards for the Dolphins. Here's what different NFL insiders are saying about a potential deadline blockbuster involving the Alabama product.
Jaylen Waddle trade rumors
It doesn't look like it.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, teams are no doubt calling about the wide receiver but have been told Miami has no interest in trading Waddle.
Instead, Rapoport believes the Dolphins unloading one of their edge rushers is "far more likely."
"Several teams have called the Dolphins about star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and sources say those teams have been told Miami has no interest in trading him. Similar to Simmons for Tennessee, dealing Waddle would signal a look to the future rather than trying to win now," Rapoport reported.
"While things can change, it seems far more likely Miami would be willing to deal an edge rusher (perhaps Matt Judon, Bradley Chubb or even Jaelan Phillips)," he added.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel weighed-in on trade rumors surrounding his team and said all of them are "baseless, currently."
"All [trade] rumors about Miami Dolphins players are baseless, currently," he said. "Personally, this time of year bothers me for the sake of individual players having where he's playing questioned by rumors."
Using the word "currently" leaves the door open for the Dolphins to do something, but that something doesn't necessarily have to be trading Waddle.
There are a few more reasons why we don't believe the Dolphins will trade Waddle.
Trading Waddle would completely deplete the Dolphins' wide receivers room, which doesn't have Tyreek Hill for the rest of the season.
Furthermore, he's only 26 years old and is young enough to be included in the team's long-term plans, rebuild or not.
And, if the Dolphins draft a quarterback in 2026, which seems likely, Miami will already have a strong target for the young signal-caller in-house.
Sorry, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers fans, Waddle isn't likely to be an option for your teams to trade for in 2025.
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