How the Denver Broncos landed Jaylen Waddle

Key Points:

• The Broncos have a strong roster with few gaps, holding seven picks in the upcoming draft and several additional picks in 2026 and 2027, including compensatory selections for John Franklin-Myers and P.J. Locke.
• They secured wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a three-year, $68.6 million deal, with an average annual value of $23 million, which is less than the contract given to Courtland Sutton last summer.
• With quarterback Russell Wilson on a rookie contract for at least another year, the Broncos aimed to be aggressive in acquiring a player like Waddle to enhance their offensive versatility and complement other skill players.
• Historically, the Broncos have made several significant trades involving first-round picks, including trading for John Elway in 1983 and Gary Zimmerman in 1993, with mixed results such as the costly 2022 trade for Russell Wilson.
• Recent notable trades include acquiring head coach Sean Payton in 2023 by trading first- and second-round picks, and the 2026 trade sending a first-round pick and additional mid-round picks to the Miami Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle.