The Miami Dolphins are heading into the 2026 offseason with more questions than answers-and at the center of it all is a franchise in transition. After missing the playoffs for the second year in a row, Miami made sweeping changes at the top, parting ways with head coach Mike McDaniel and bringing in Jeff Hafley to take over the reins. Alongside Hafley, Jon-Eric Sullivan steps in as general manager, signaling a new era-and potentially a new direction-for the team.
One of the biggest storylines to watch? The quarterback situation.
Or rather, the lack of one. The Dolphins appear ready to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, but there’s no clear successor waiting in the wings.
That leaves the most important position in football in flux, and with no obvious solution in sight, Miami may be staring down the barrel of a full-scale rebuild.
And if that’s the path they choose, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle could find himself on the trade block.
Waddle, still under contract for multiple seasons, is one of the Dolphins’ most valuable assets. He’s got elite speed, proven production, and the kind of game-breaking ability that offensive coordinators dream about.
Even in a down year by his standards-910 yards and six touchdowns in 2025-Waddle was still a bright spot in an otherwise disjointed offense. That kind of consistency, especially amid quarterback instability, speaks volumes.
Naturally, teams in need of a dynamic playmaker are paying attention. The Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, and Tennessee Titans are among the clubs that could make a move for Waddle if he’s made available.
For Washington, pairing Waddle with Terry McLaurin would give young quarterback Jayden Daniels a potent one-two punch on the outside. McLaurin’s route-running precision and Waddle’s explosive acceleration would create matchup nightmares for opposing secondaries.
Denver, meanwhile, could offer a similar setup. Courtland Sutton remains the Broncos’ top target, but adding Waddle to the mix would bring a new layer of speed and separation ability for Bo Nix to work with. It’s the kind of move that could accelerate Nix’s development and open up Sean Payton’s playbook in a big way.
Then there’s Tennessee. The Titans are still looking to solidify their passing game around Cam Ward, and Waddle would be an immediate upgrade in the WR1 role. His ability to stretch the field and create yards after the catch would instantly elevate an offense that’s lacked explosiveness in recent years.
Of course, all of this hinges on whether Miami is truly ready to hit the reset button. Trading away a talent like Waddle isn’t a decision any team takes lightly.
But with a new head coach, a new GM, and a quarterback question mark looming large, the Dolphins are clearly at a crossroads. If they decide to tear things down and start fresh, moving Waddle could be part of a broader strategy to retool the roster and build for the future.
The next few months will be telling. Miami’s offseason is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent franchise history-and what they decide to do with Jaylen Waddle could be a major piece of that puzzle.