5 things to know about new Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle

The Denver Broncos rattled the NFL on Tuesday, making a trade for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. In return, the Dolphins will get first, third and fourth-round picks from the Broncos while also including their own fourth-round choice in the deal. 

The Broncos needed some offensive firepower this offseason and Waddle will be a welcome addition to what suddenly looks like a formidable wide receiver room.

Broncos fans who may not be as familiar with Waddle, who has spent the first part of his professional career in South Florida, should know that the Broncos are getting one of the league's fastest and shiftiest wideouts. But what else sound fans know about the player the team just obtained?

5 things to know about Jaylen Waddle

National champion

Waddle came from one of the best football programs in the country at Alabama. He was part of the school's national championship team in 2020. That season, he caught 28 passes and scored four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. 

High draft pick

Waddle was taken with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 draft, one spot after the Cincinnati Bengals took Ja'Marr Chase off the board. He is the highest-drafted wide receiver in Dolphins history. 

Rookie record

Waddle set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie when he caught 104 passes in 2021, breaking a record that had stood for 18 years. That number has since been surpassed three times, but Waddle was just the second rookie in NFL history with 100+ receptions in a season by a rookie at the time. 

Another high mark in 2022

The following year, Waddle led the league by averaging 18.1 yards per reception for players with at least 25 catches.

Broncos wanted to trade for him last season

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The Broncos were looking to add an offensive weapon ahead of last year's trade deadline in November, and checked on the availability of Waddle. At the time, it was reported that the Dolphins were looking for more than a first-round pick. Ultimately, the Broncos ended up giving that price to the Dolphins about five months later. 

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