New NFL Rumors Reveal Dolphins' Handling of Jaylen Waddle Trade With Malik Willis After FA Contract

Newly signed quarterback Malik Willis wasn't kept in the dark before the Miami Dolphins traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.

NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported Saturday that Willis "was in the know of this decision and he is still all in on the plan." Wolfe went on to say the signal-caller isn't "just a Band-Aid addition" but instead a piece Miami hopes will be around for a long time:

Tyreek Hill's release in mid-February was generally expected. The eight-time Pro Bowler turned 32 this month, and he's coming off a major leg injury. The veteran pass-catcher isn't on the same timeline as a franchise in a rebuild.

Between Hill's exit and Willis' arrival, it looked as though the Dolphins were building around Waddle as their long-term No. 1 receiver moving forward. He's signed through 2028 as well, so there wasn't an imminent threat of him hitting free agency.

Now, Willis is joining an offense with little depth in the receiving corps. Nobody would blame him for having some buyer's remorse to some degree.

The fact the Dolphins alerted its big offseason signing to the situation with Waddle reflects how much the organization values him. He has yet to take a snap for Miami and he's already being treated like a franchise QB.

Reinforcements will be coming at some point, presumably through the 2026 NFL draft. USC receiver Makai Lemon was the pick for the Phins in Bleacher Report's most recent mock.

The relatively low stakes in South Florida for 2026 might actually benefit Willis in his first full season as an NFL starter. He and Miami will be poised to take a leap forward in 2027.