Miami Dolphins Aren’t Exactly Setting Malik Willis up for Success After Trading Jaylen Waddle

The Miami Dolphins decided it was their turn to light the NFL news cycle on fire on Tuesday.

The Dolphins traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster trade that landed the No. 30 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to Miami.

For the Broncos, this trade is a no brainer. Waddle is a much better player than any wide receiver they would’ve selected at No. 30 overall.

But for the Dolphins?

They just gave Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis a three-year deal worth $67.5 million to be the team’s starting quarterback.

The Dolphins aren’t bringing back Tyreek Hill, who was released following his season-ending knee injury. Now they showed Waddle the door as well, leaving Willis without many options to throw the ball to.

Of course, the Dolphins need to be mindful of their cap space situation – which is going to be complex. They were able to afford Willis, but they’ll be dealing with the dead cap charges that coincide with their decision to release Tua Tagovailoa, who was in the middle of his monster four-year, $212 million deal.

But right away, new head coach Jeff Hafley and Willis feel undermined.

Without Hill and Waddle, the Dolphins are left with Malik Washington. Jalen Tolbert and TuTu Atwell just joined the team in free agency. Combined, Washington, Tolbert and Atwell had 712 receiving yards last year. That’s not even a wide receiver No. 1 on a tanking team.

Tight end Greg Dulcich will contribute in the passing game as well. Regardless, this room is looking really thin.

Maybe the Dolphins bounce back from this by getting a high profile free agent wide receiver for Willis. There are a few of them out there, including Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel. In the next tier of wide receivers, Juan Jennings or Gabe Davis could make some sense for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins have No. 11 overall and No. 30 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Could they package those draft picks together in order to scoot up a few slots for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate? Or could they keep their fingers crossed that Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson slides to them at No. 11?

One way or another, the Dolphins will need to escape the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with a premier wide receiver.

There’s no way that Hafley and Willis will be set up for success in their first season together with the current wide receiver situation.