In a significant development for the Miami Dolphins, Jaylen Waddle has officially signed a three-year contract extension, a move that he and the organization celebrated with South Florida media on Tuesday. The deal, valued at $84.75 million, will commence following the 2025 season, underscoring the Dolphins’ confidence in the young receiver’s abilities and potential.
Waddle, expressing immense gratitude for the extension, remarked, “It’s a blessing, always a blessing to get an extension from the organization that brought you into the league. It says that they are confident in me.”
He acknowledged his journey from being a 22-year-old draftee recovering from a significant injury to securing a pivotal role in the team’s future. “So it’s always been love since I got here, and we were just happy to get something done,” Waddle added.
Despite the buzz in the NFL receiver market and his former Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith signing an extension, Waddle maintained that he was never anxious about his own contract situation. He was confident that the Dolphins would come through with an appropriate offer.
This offseason has seen a flurry of lucrative deals for wide receivers, with Justin Jefferson’s contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings setting a new high at an annual average of $35 million. Waddle’s deal positions him as the league’s fifth-highest-paid receiver, just under teammate Tyreek Hill’s $30 million annual average.
Waddle’s confidence in the Dolphins’ commitment to him never wavered. “You never know, man, it’s a business part on both sides, so you never know. But it made sense for both sides, and we were able to get it done,” he stated, acknowledging the uncertainty that can come with negotiations but also the mutual benefits of his extension.
The wide receiver also credited his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, with playing a significant role in his success and his new contract. “Tua is my guy,” Waddle said, underscoring the quarterback’s influence on his performance and financial rewards.
Waddle’s NFL journey thus far has been impressive, with 20 total career touchdowns and 3,385 receiving yards across his first three seasons. His consistent production has placed him among the elite, becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to begin his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and ranking as the fifth wide receiver with over 250 receptions and 3,300 receiving yards in the same timeframe.
The contract extension news also brought joy to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who praised Waddle not only for his on-field excellence but also for his character and ambition.
In a lighter moment, Waddle shared that teammate Tyreek Hill humorously nicknamed him “28,” representing the $28.25 million annual value his contract will reach, highlighting the camaraderie and spirit within the team. Waddle’s reaction to the new nickname and the playful banter it has inspired among teammates, including Odell Beckham Jr., shows the strong bond within the Dolphins’ locker room.
As the Dolphins look ahead, the commitment to and investment in talent like Jaylen Waddle signals a promising future for the team and its dedicated fan base.