The first blockbuster wide receiver trade of 2026 sets a very clear precedent for teams inquiring about Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle
“The market is the market”.
If the Miami Dolphins are going to trade wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, we have our first mark of the market this offseason.
Miami reportedly entertained trade offers for Waddle at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, including a reported offer from their AFC East rivals in Buffalo that included a 2027 first round pick. Waddle stayed in-house. And now, the Bills have pivoted. Reports this afternoon have Buffalo trading a second-round draft choice to Chicago for wide receiver D.J. Moore. How does Waddle stack up to Moore? And what does this deal mean for potential offers for Waddle?
Bills trade for D.J. Moore paints a clear picture on the market for Jaylen Waddle
The raw production for Moore and Waddle is comparable over the past several seasons. Neither has logged a 1,000 yard season in either of the last two years — Waddle has the slightest of edges in total receiving yards (1,654 to 1,658). But Moore’s production has come on an additional 42 targets and Waddle owns a massive advantage in expected points added (EPA) per target:
Waddle ranks 12th among NFL wide receivers in this statistic (0.37 EPA/target) since the start of 2024. Moore ranks 50th (0.10 EPA/target) over the same period of time out of 60 eligible NFL wide receivers. Expand the sample size back to 2022 and Waddle ranks 4th in the NFL in EPA/target and his total is double that of Moore.
Moore is also owed $73.5 million over the next three seasons, which will all be in Buffalo. The Bills reportedly guaranteed $15.5 million of his $24.5 million cash that is owed in 2028. Waddle, on the other hand, is owed $68.6 million — and $7.5 million less than Moore in 2026. Moore turns 29 next month, whereas Waddle will be 27 until next November.
Miami’s primary pass catcher hasn’t had the offense run through him until this year with the injury to Tyreek Hill. But he’s younger, cheaper, and more productive on a per-target basis across the past several seasons.
So if teams plan to come knocking on Jaylen Waddle in the weeks ahead, the D.J. Moore deal makes it very, very clear: the asking price starts higher than what the Bills agreed to sent to Chicago for Moore this week.
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