In some respects, Jaylen Waddle has long been living in the shadow of Tyreek Hill at the Miami Dolphins.
So isn’t it ironic that in an offseason in which Hill has been let go by the Dolphins, Waddle will also exit the franchise stage left?
The 27-year-old will swap Miami for Denver in 2026-27, joining up with the Broncos in a move that will surely give him a far greater chance of experiencing the Super Bowl game first hand.
Broncos Busting Out
Indeed, Denver might have made Super Bowl LX in February but for a serious injury suffered by star quarterback Bo Nix. Nix should make a full recovery from his fractured ankle, and his link-up with Waddle could be a fascinating addition to the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes.
They are currently priced at +1900 in the NFL betting for the 2027 championship game, which places them very much in the ‘dark horse’ category.
The Super Bowl betting may favor the likes of the Los Angeles Rams (+700), Seattle Seahawks (+900), and the Buffalo Bills (+1000), but that Nix-Waddle axis will surely catch the eye of bettors – particularly as the Broncos were so strong during the 2025-26 campaign.
Sean Payton’s side finished the AFC season with an impressive 14-3 record, taking top seed status into the playoffs.
New look for the AFC Championship Game 🖌️ pic.twitter.com/LGcIGoBI6L
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 23, 2026
They bested the Bills after overtime before suffering a heartbreaking defeat to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game – a contest that Payton will reflect upon as an opportunity missed.
It’s somewhat strange that the odds compilers are relatively pessimistic about Denver’s chances in 2026-27, with Nix likely to be fully fit and joined by the outstanding wide receiver that is Jayden Waddle.
Denver Dreaming
It would be fair to say that the 27-year-old’s best work came during the 2022 season. Waddle led the NFL in yardage per reception, while racking up 1,356 regular season receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
The challenge for Waddle had been coexisting with Hill, a receiver known as ‘The Cheetah’ thanks to his remarkable speed of foot.
It’s no coincidence that when Hill suffered a colossal knee injury last season that even left him pondering retirement, Waddle became the Dolphins’ number one reception target – and he lived up to the billing to some tune.
Five years in the 305. Thank you, JDub. 🐬 pic.twitter.com/NzyuYAS3rV
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 18, 2026
Waddle’s yardage-per-reception average and touchdown count was the highest it has been since those salad days of 2022, suggesting that when he is considered a key pass target, he is still able to deliver the goods.
He will dovetail with Courtland Sutton at the Broncos, adding quality and ball carrying brilliance to a team that is already elite in a number of different departments.
Many pundits feel that Payton is still one of the best coaches around when it comes to aerial attacks too, so handing Nix a new target in Waddle should – in theory – be a recipe for success.
But, of course, this is the NFL, where ships don’t always sail smoothly. On paper, at least, Denver have got themselves a star in Jaylen Waddle… can he be the missing piece that carries them to the Super Bowl?
