Pair of Dolphins stars identified as top trade candidates in 2026

The Miami Dolphins have already made some tough decisions this offseason to set themselves up for a better future, as they've released some top players (Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb) and fired head coach Mike McDaniel.

Could that be the start? Could Miami follow up with more shocking moves? Interestingly, ESPN's Dan Graziano and Benjamin Solak identifiedDolphins running back De'Von Achane and wide receiver Tyreek Hill as two of the top trade candidates in the NFL this offseason.

Achane is in the final year of his rookie contract, and through three seasons has rushed for 3,057 yards and 22 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt while catching 172 passes for an additional 1,277 yards and 13 scores.

"The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they're getting calls on all of their star players," Graziano wrote. "My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done."

Waddle has three years remaining on his extension and has caught 373 passes for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns in his five years in the NFL.

"There were whispers of a potential Waddle deal at the trade deadline in October, but those might have been generated from the interested teams rather than from the Dolphins," Graziano wrote. "With Tyreek Hill released, a Waddle deal would represent a significant reset in Miami. And if the Dolphins are going to handle a $99.2 million dead money hit for Tua Tagovailoa, they are going to have to cut costs somewhere. (On the third day of the league year, $15.2 million of Waddle's $23.39 million 2027 salary will become fully guaranteed, too.)

"But as I said on Achane above, my sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a building block who's under contract and aren't eager to move on from him. They'll get calls, no doubt, but it would take a lot for them to deal him."

Both Graziano and Solak agree that it's unlikely that Miami will move on from Achane and Waddle this offseason, the way that they did with Hill and Chubb. With these players, both in their mid-20s, they can help usher in the next wave of Dolphins, who they hope will help them break their championship drought.

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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Jaylen Waddle, De'Von Achane named top trade candidates in 2026