One of the perks of being traded to the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is the opportunity to be a teammate of close friend Patrick Surtain II.
The former Alabama teammates often discussed being on the same NFL team at some point during their careers, even more so when both were top-10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Waddle went sixth overall to the Miami Dolphins and Surtain, a cornerback, was chosen at No. 9 by the Broncos.
But Wednesday, the duo officially became NFL teammates when the Broncos formally announced they acquired Waddle and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft from the Dolphins for three 2026 picks – a first-rounder, a third-rounder and a fourth-rounder.
“It was special,” Waddle said of learning he’d be playing with Surtain, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “He was one of the first calls that I made. We talked about this earlier in our careers, we wanted to get together and play with each other. Just seeing it happen, it’s special.”
The frequent conversations allowed Waddle to glean some information about Denver coach Sean Payton’s methods.
“Not too many details,” Waddle said. “We kept in contact through the years when Coach Payton has been here. He’s been keeping me in the loop without even knowing.”
The acquisition of Waddle gives Denver another solid target for quarterback Bo Nix. The Broncos feature two-time Pro Bowl wideout Courtland Sutton, who led the team in catches (74), receiving yards (1,017) and receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2025.
The 5-foot-10 Waddle recorded 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games last season for the Dolphins. He is signed through the 2028 season.
“I don’t think there are No. 1s, everyone is here to make plays and try to win,” Waddle said of the receiving room. “That’s ultimately the goal for the team and for the organization.”
Waddle, 27, has 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns in 78 career games (all starts) since entering the NFL. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons and had a career-high 104 catches as a rookie in 2021.
Best of the deal for Waddle is he gets to play on a team expected to contend for a second straight AFC Championship Game berth. The Dolphins aren’t part of that conversation after going 7-10 last season and entering a rebuilding phase.
“It’s exciting, like I said, just playing with great players,” Waddle said. “Everyone is talking about how great and close the team is. I’m excited to be around the guys, get to know them, and they get to know me and go from there.”
