Jaylen Waddle Trade Could Be Very Problematic For Steelers In The Future

The Pittsburgh Steelers are probably done with their notable big moves for the 2026 offseason. However, the rest of the NFL is still moving at full speed. Names are being plucked off of the open market, while other teams are completing trades in order to get more capital for the NFL Draft in April. One team that has been going through a fire sale since before the 2025 NFL season is the Miami Dolphins. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has traded away some star power, released some key starters, and even moved on from their young and promising wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle.

The Dolphins agreed to trade Waddle to the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, and Miami got back a haul in the deal. They received the Broncos' first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as a third- and fourth-round selection, while the Dolphins just sent over a fourth-round pick and Waddle. Miami will also be paying most of Waddle's guaranteed salary for the 2026 season. The Dolphins' wide receiver room is now quite underwhelming, and it is a spot that the organization is going to have to address in the first round of the annual event next month.

Miami's top wide receivers currently are TuTu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, which isn't necessarily a recipe for success. Both players are fine wide receivers, but an offense probably is not in a great spot if those are the top two options in the passing game. Wide receivers should be the top target for Miami in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the franchise now has the 11th overall pick and the 30th overall pick. 

This trade opening up a massive need for the Dolphins could wind up hurting the Steelers. Pittsburgh needs to add another wide receiver, but the organization does not pick until the 21st overall selection. Miami can now be a threat in that regard, which may make other teams panic. That could force wide receivers to fly off of the board.

It happens every year where a string of players at a certain position are selected, and that may happen at wide receiver in the first round. The Steelers should be in a decent spot to land a top play at the position, but there is a chance they are all scooped up before Pittsburgh gets the opportunity to make a pick. The Steelers do have a ton of draft capital as the franchise holds 12 selections in the event, so moving up in the first round should be considered a possibility as well.

Steelers Don't Have As Large Of A Need At Wide Receiver Anymore

Pittsburgh traded for DK Metcalf during the 2025 offseason, and the organization has already acquired Michael Pittman Jr. in 2026. That's a solid top-two duo at wide receiver, and the need at the position is not nearly as big as it was for the Steelers at the end of the 2025 season. Still, it would be wise to inject some youth and excitement into the room by selecting a wide receiver early on in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh's move for Pittman looks even better when compared to other deals that went down around the league. Denver gave up three selections for Waddle while the Steelers brought in Pittman for a late-round pick swap. The same can be said about the Buffalo Bills giving up a second round pick to acquire DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears.

Do you think the Steelers will be able to pick a top wide receiver? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

#SteelerNation