Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle has been brilliant his first three years with Miami, registering at least 1,000 yards in each of his seasons. And for that, the team thanked him with a ton of zeros.
Last week, the Dolphins extended Waddle’s contract by three years for an average of 28.5 million a season. As it stands as of Wednesday, he’ll be the fifth highest-paid receiver in the NFL. But there’s a caveat. Several more receivers could beat that number sometime soon. Even Tyreek Hill, Waddle’s teammate, could be in line for a ton more money.
Waddle met with the media this week for the first time since agreeing to his hefty deal. The former Alabama star and first-round draft pick, said he was ecstatic over the contract.
“It’s a blessing, always a blessing to get an extension from the organization that brought you into the league,”Waddle told reporters. “It says that they are confident in me. Like I said, they brought me into this league taking a chance — I was 22 coming off a major injury. So it’s always been love since I got here, and we were just happy to get something done.”
Back in 2020, Waddle broke his ankle while returning a kick for the Crimson Tide against Tennessee. He healed up enough to play in that year’s national title game. The Dolphins selected him with the sixth pic
k of the first round in April, 2021. And that draft, particularly the first round, produced a ton of talented wideouts. The Bengals selected LSU standout Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth pick. The Eagles picked DeVonta Smith, Waddle’s Bama teammate, at No. 10. In the later rounds, the Texans picked Nico Collins (Michigan) in the third round, while the Lions selected USC star Amon-Ra St. Brown.
All but Chase has received a huge new extension in recent weeks. However, Chase’s money will be big, too.
Dolphins coach called Waddle ‘great human being’
Waddle said he was appreciative that he and the Dolphins “were able to get it done.” He said “it made sense for both sides,” to do so.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel also was content that one of his better players received more money. “A great human being,” McDaniel said of Waddle. “The drive for greatness is real for him.”
Waddle is one of the best, big-play receivers in the NFL. After all, in 2022, he averaged 18.1 yards per catch in 2022. That led the league. He produced as a rookie with 104 catches. And last year, he caught 72 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.
Statistically, the Dolphins have the most explosive offense in the NFL. And the team is paying big money for its stars. Hill used to be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, averaging $30 million a year. But he’s getting surpassed by receivers this season. It’s why the Dolphins are likely to keep him happy with some more money.
Meanwhile, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also is negotiating a new deal. The former Crimson Tide star was Miami’s first round pick — he was fifth overall — in 2020. If no deal is reached, Tagovailoa will be playing on his fifth-year option of his rookie contract.
“Tua is my guy,” Waddle told reporters. “Without Tua, I wouldn’t have been able to get the extension that I got.”
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