Tyreek Hill is responding to the idea that the Miami Dolphins should consider trading Jaylen Waddle by praising his fellow wide receiver.
I’m all the way in Greece right now and I get on Twitter to see people talking crazy about dolphin football
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) February 21, 2024
Waddle’s future is a matter of speculation because of the 25-year-old’s contract situation.
My boy waddle is the future , he is better than I was at this point in his career and for people in this fan base to want to trade him is ludicrous 🥹
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) February 21, 2024
Him and Tua was special before me and will be special after I leave 🥹
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) February 21, 2024
With the former first-round draft pick about to enter his fourth NFL season, the Dolphins can exercise a contract option to secure him through the 2025 NFL season while also possibly offering a more lucrative extension at some point.
However, the Dolphins already have an expensive No. 1 receiver in Hill and could be facing some prohibitive salary cap constraints.
Because of that, former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum, now an ESPN analyst, recently floated the idea of trading Waddle straight up for Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie. The thinking would be that an affordable top-level cornerback would be more valuable to Miami than a high-priced No. 2 wide receiver.
In addition, the Dolphins reportedly may be getting ready to move on from cornerback Xavien Howard and could need someone else to play opposite star Jalen Ramsey.
Waddle was the No. 6 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. As a rookie without Hill as a teammate, the University of Alabama product had 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns.
In two seasons playing with Hill, Waddle has managed to grab just 147 receptions combined but was able to post a career-high 1,356 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in the 2022 campaign. Last season, in just 14 regular season games, he had 1,014 receiving yards with four touchdown catches.
Miami reportedly could be more than $50 million over the NFL salary cap for this upcoming season and also have a decision to make on a hefty long-term contract for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
It might be very difficult for the Dolphins to afford Hill, Tagovailoa and Waddle while also continuing to fill out the rest of a competitive roster.
So, while Waddle’s talent and production so far in his career may be impressive to Hill and others, his future with Miami might boil down to a matter of economics. In that case, it might behoove the Dolphins to get something for him while they can.
