The Miami Dolphins made a massive trade with the Denver Broncos, sending Jaylen Waddle to Denver for a 2026 first-round pick at No. 30 overall, along with a third-round pick.
It was a big move that left the Dolphins’ wide receiver barren. Now, Jon Eric-Sullivan will need to search for a new WR in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they could do so with the 11th or 30th picks.
But, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a different route for Miami to take. Instead of taking a WR with the Waddle pick, the Dolphins could trade out of Round 1 with the Las Vegas Raiders to land a third-round pick.
Dolphins could trade out of R1 with Raiders for WR, 3rd round reasons
“If Miami addresses wide receiver at No. 11 or doesn’t feel like there’s a wideout who fits its draft board here, this could be a spot to trade down and get another pick,” Barnwell writes.
Barnwell’s trade idea would have the Dolphins send the 30th pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for the 36th pick (Round 2) and a 2027 third-round pick.
This would allow the dolphins to only move down six spots, but pick up a third-rounder that could potentially be early in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Miami’s rebuild isn’t going to be a quick one, and getting as many picks as possible isn’t a bad idea at all for the Dolphins.
More: Denzel Boston named ideal fit for Dolphins at pick No. 30
Whether it’s due to the Dolphins taking a WR earlier in the draft, or if the wide receiver options aren’t their favorites to take in Round 1, they could move down into the second-round with this Raiders trade idea.
Instead of reaching for a WR or another position with the 30th pick, they could trade down, land some upgraded draft capital in 2027, and still land a good player at the beginning of Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
There should be plenty of options in the early second round worth considering for the Dolphins, so this trade-down would make a ton of sense for the Dolphins with all of their needs across the roster.
