Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is celebrating one major benefit of his recent trade to the Denver Broncos: the chance to team up with longtime friend and former Alabama teammate Patrick Surtain II.
The two former Crimson Tide stars had frequently talked about joining forces on an NFL roster throughout their professional careers, especially after both became top-10 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. Miami selected Waddle with the sixth overall pick, while Denver chose cornerback Surtain with the ninth selection.
On Wednesday, their dream became reality when Denver officially confirmed they had obtained Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick from Miami in exchange for three 2026 selections: a first-round pick, third-round pick, and fourth-round pick.
“It was special,” Waddle commented about discovering he would join Surtain, who earned 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. “He was one of the first calls that I made. We talked about this earlier in our careers, we wanted to get together and play with each other. Just seeing it happen, it’s special.”
Their ongoing communication also provided Waddle with insights into Denver head coach Sean Payton’s coaching approach.
“Not too many details,” Waddle explained. “We kept in contact through the years when Coach Payton has been here. He’s been keeping me in the loop without even knowing.”
Waddle’s arrival provides Denver quarterback Bo Nix with an additional reliable receiving option. The Broncos already have two-time Pro Bowl receiver Courtland Sutton, who paced the team with 74 receptions, 1,017 receiving yards, and seven touchdown catches in 2025.
The 5-foot-10 Waddle hauled in 64 passes for 910 yards and six scores across 16 games last season with Miami. His contract runs through the 2028 season.
“I don’t think there are No. 1s, everyone is here to make plays and try to win,” Waddle said regarding Denver’s receiving corps. “That’s ultimately the goal for the team and for the organization.”
The 27-year-old Waddle has compiled 373 catches for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns over 78 career games (all starts) since joining the NFL. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his first three professional seasons and set a career mark with 104 receptions during his 2021 rookie campaign.
Perhaps most appealing to Waddle is joining a franchise positioned to compete for consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. Miami finished 7-10 last season and has entered a rebuilding period, removing them from championship discussions.
“It’s exciting, like I said, just playing with great players,” Waddle noted. “Everyone is talking about how great and close the team is. I’m excited to be around the guys, get to know them, and they get to know me and go from there.”
