Topic / Subject
Dolphins trade chatter is bubbling heading into Combine week, but NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe is pumping the brakes: Miami doesn’t want to move Jaylen Waddle or De’Von Achane and views both as core offensive players.
Key Details
- Player/team: Miami Dolphins; WR Jaylen Waddle, RB De’Von Achane
- What’s rumored: Other teams are expected to ask about Waddle/Achane, but Miami’s stance (per Wolfe) is “not for sale” right now
- Timing: NFL Scouting Combine week in Indianapolis (Feb. 23–March 2 overall event window)
- Quick Links (clickable):
Breakdown
This is the classic Combine-season recipe: a team starts trimming veterans, the league smells a reset, and suddenly everyone “checks in” on the shiny parts of the roster.
Miami’s reset vibes are real. Reuters reported the Dolphins are releasing Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb in cost-cutting moves as the front office reshapes the roster. That kind of headline is basically an open invite for rival teams to pick up the phone and ask, “So… how deep does this reboot go?”
But Wolfe’s reporting adds the reality check: Waddle and Achane aren’t being shopped, and Miami still views them as foundational pieces on offense. In other words: teams can ask, Miami can laugh politely, and everyone goes back to watching 40 times.
What We Know
- Wolfe says Miami does not want to trade Jaylen Waddle, describing him as a core player.
- Wolfe also says Miami does not want to trade De’Von Achane, and frames Achane + Waddle as core offensive players.
- Miami’s broader roster shakeup is underway, including reported releases of Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb.
- The Combine is a common “trade talk” hub (lots of informal conversations, lots of “we’ll see”).
What We Don’t Know
- Whether any team actually puts a serious, can’t-ignore-it offer on the table for either player.
- Which teams are calling (no confirmed suitors in the reporting cited here).
- How far Miami’s reset goes beyond the veteran cuts, including whether other names (like Minkah Fitzpatrick) become real trade candidates or just “inquiries.”
Can This Actually Happen?
Contract/cap reality (high-level): It can always happen if someone overpays, but Wolfe’s “core player” framing usually means Miami’s asking price would be nuclear.
Team incentives: If the Dolphins are trying to get younger while staying functional, keeping Waddle/Achane makes sense as the offensive engine for whoever’s under center.
What would need to be true: A team would have to blow Miami away (think premium picks and/or a player Miami values), and Miami would have to decide the rebuild is deeper than the current messaging.
Would It Even Make Sense?
Scheme fit: For a contender, Waddle is a plug-in No. 1/No. 2 weapon and Achane is the type of speed back who flips games. For Miami, trading either would be a loud signal that the offense is getting stripped down, not retooled.
Depth chart role: Miami keeping both preserves explosiveness during a transition. Moving one (or both) means you’re hunting for replacements in a hurry—usually a bad time.
Timeline: Combine week is where chatter starts. If anything real happens, it usually snowballs into “specific teams” and “real framework” reporting fast.
Verdict Box
Likelihood: Low
Wolfe’s report is basically a “yes they’ll get calls, no they’re not dealing them” stamp. Until we hear actual suitors and actual offers, this is mostly smoke.
What to Watch Next
- Any follow-up reporting that names real teams calling about Waddle/Achane.
- Whether Miami’s “core player” stance softens if trade talks on other players heat up at the Combine.
- More clarity on Miami’s direction after the veteran releases (how aggressive the reset really is).
TL;DR / Summary
Teams are expected to ask about Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane at the Combine, but Cameron Wolfe says Miami views them as core players and doesn’t want to trade them right now.
Sources
- NBC Sports Rotoworld (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe): Waddle/Achane “core” stance
- Yahoo Sports: recap of Wolfe remarks + Combine chatter framing
- Bleacher Report: recap of Wolfe report
- Reuters: Dolphins releasing Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb context
- NFL Operations: 2026 Combine dates (Feb. 23–March 2)
Comment
If you’re a contender, what’s the biggest offer you’d actually put on the table for Waddle or Achane?


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