The Miami Dolphins have reached an agreement with Jaylen Waddle on a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension that includes $76 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
“This just in: Miami and WR Jaylen Waddle reached agreement today on a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension that includes $76 million guaranteed, per sources,” Schefter tweeted on May 30. “The deal makes Waddle one of the league’s top five highest-paid receivers.”
Waddle, a huge piece in the future of the organization, gets paid before Tua Tagovailoa, coming as somewhat of a surprise.
The Dolphins drafted the 25-year-old Waddle out of Alabama with the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins General Manager Hinted at Keeping Jaylen Waddle Around at NFL Scouting Combine
There were questions about what the Miami Dolphins were going to do on a potential Waddle contract, but these answer all of those. General manager Chris Grier also spoke about his future at the NFL Scouting Combine, making it known that he wanted to keep Waddle with the organization for the future.
“I said in the middle of the season, I have no thoughts of trading Jaylen Waddle,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “We want him here for a long time, and we think he’s a big part of our now and our future here. He’s a great person on and off the field, and we still think as good as he is, he still has runway to keep getting better.”
When there’s homegrown talent like Waddle, it’s a wise decision to keep him around. He’s done everything he can in a Dolphins jersey and being just 25 years old, should have an even better future.
While this contract makes him one of the highest paid, that likely won’t be the case when this contract is finished. Cooper Kupp, DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins, and others are all being paid around similar value, ranging from $72.7 million to $80 million.
This Contract Makes Sense for the Dolphins
Landing Waddle to this deal makes sense given the production he’s given. In his first three seasons, he’s had over 1,000 yards per season. That includes a 2022 season where he finished with 1,356 yards despite Tagovailoa dealing with injuries and having backup quarterbacks throw him the football.
Tyreek Hill has been the focus of the Miami Dolphins offense over the past two years, which is warranted, but Waddle also helps with that. Making defenses focus on both of them, Hill has opportunities to get open in ways he might not if Waddle wasn’t on the roster.
It’s uncertain what they’re going to do with Tagovailoa’s contract. However, if the plan is to keep him around for the future, this gives the Dolphins a duo they know they can count on for the future of the team.
Waddle will be a big help in the Dolphins getting over that hump of winning a playoff game, something they haven’t accomplished since the 2020 season. They’ve played better in the three seasons that he’s been in Miami and has been a big part of that.
