NEWSLETTER
Another day, another wide receiver getting paid!
On Thursday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Miami Dolphins and their star receiver (well, one of them) Jaylen Waddle agreed to a three-year contract worth $84.5 million and a whopping $76 million guaranteed. The deal makes the fourth-year wideout out of Alabama one of the five highest-paid players at his position in the NFL.
Jaylen Waddle Contract The Latest Big WR Deal
Waddle’s new contract is just the latest in a summer that’s been filled with massive extensions for wide receivers. Here’s a list of those who have already netted brand-new contract extensions this offseason:
Jaylen Waddle’s guaranteed money is now the third-highest total in NFL history trailing just AJ Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown who signed their new contracts this offseason. The 25-year-old wide receiver has certainly earned the new deal as he’s done nothing but produce since getting drafted three years ago. Waddle has put up three straight 1,000+ yard seasons which is a franchise record. He also owns Fins franchise records for most receiving yards in the first three years of his career (3,385), receiving yards for a rookie (1,105), and receptions for a rookie (104).
Last season was technically Waddle’s worst statistically in the NFL, but he also played in just 14 games as opposed to 17 in 2022 and 16 in the 2021 season. In 14 games for Miami, he recorded 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 104 targets. He also recorded an impressive 14.1 yards per reception.
Now that the Jaylen Waddle deal is done, up next for receiver extensions will almost certainly be Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati and Justin Jefferson in Minnesota. Jefferson and the Vikings have been negotiating since last season and still have yet to strike a deal. One thing is for sure though, those two LOVE seeing these massive receiver extensions getting thrown out there. For as good as Waddle, St. Brown, etc are, Chase and Jefferson have arguably been the two best receivers in football over the last three seasons. Their deals, whenever agreed to, will undoubtedly break records for wide receiver paydays, at this point it’s just a matter of who signs one first.
CeeDee Lamb is also due big money in Dallas in the near future, however their salary cap situation might complicate things and when that could get done.
Speaking of receivers in need of a new contract, we’re not quite there with DJ Moore yet in Chicago but we’re getting pretty damn close. After a top-ten receiver season statistically in 2023, Moore is primed to put up similar if not better numbers in the Bears’ new-look offense. He has two years left on his deal and will make $16.05 million in each.
Luis had a great breakdown of what Moore’s next deal could look like in Chicago, but to sum it up a bit – if he keeps producing like last season he’s going to get PAID. And rightfully so. Moore was less than 200 yards away from setting the Bears single-season receiving record. And one would think his production will only go up given the addition of Caleb Williams and the influx of talent to Chicago’s offense.
Combine Moore’s on-field production and his off-the-field leadership in the locker room with the current contracts being given to receivers right now, and that’s a formula for a big-time deal for the 27-year-old receiver.
For more on DJ Moore’s potential next new deal, you can check out Luis’ full post below.
