Pittsburgh Steelers get Dolphins’ hefty trade price for Jaylen Waddle
If the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to make a splash by acquiring Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, they will have to pay a significant price.
Waddle is on the trade block for the right price, but according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the cost to acquire Waddle would be a first-round pick and more, making it unlikely the Steelers would be able to pull off that move with the focus on quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rapoport added that Waddle was not previously going to be moved, but after firing general manager Chris Grier, that now appears to be a likelier option for the Dolphins.
“While previously a question about wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was met with a hard “no,” the team will now do its due diligence and at least consider offers for the star in his prime, Rapoport wrote. “Miami still would prefer to not trade Waddle, but the Dolphins are at least willing to weigh an offer that blows them away. With an uncertain future at several key places, all options are now on the table.”
Waddle is a 26-year-old in the prime of his career and is still one of the top wide receivers in all of football. He has 41 receptions for 585 yards and four touchdowns this season, showing his sustained peak as a top player.
The Steelers are in the market for a wide receiver and have been hot on the trail for Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, too, but the asking price for all players around might be too hefty for the Steelers.
49ers trade deadline plans are now obvious after latest injury update
The San Francisco 49ers notched another win on Sunday, moving to 6-3 after defeating the New York Giants 34-24. While winning has been a theme for the Niners this season, so have significant injuries. Unfortunately, San Francisco experienced both in Week 9.
The major injury in this game happened to Mykel Williams, who is feared to have suffered a torn ACL.
The rookie edge defender will be the latest key player the 49ers lose for the season, and also the latest edge in San Francisco to go down with an injury. The Niners were already thin at that position and were expected to acquire an edge defender ahead of the trade deadline, but now they may be forced to make a trade if Williams is out for the remainder of the year.
Early in the season, San Francisco lost perennial Pro Bowler and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa to an ACL injury. Bosa’s absence put a strain on the group, and that strain was intensified when Bryce Huff went down with a hamstring injury in Week 7. Huff is expected to return this year, but he has missed the last two games, leaving the 49ers without much of a pass rush.
Now, Williams has joined his veterans on the injury report, and San Francisco has no choice but to add a veteran edge defender. Fortunately for the Niners, there are options. The most likely options both play for the Miami Dolphins, who have officially opened up for business after falling to 2-7 and firing their general manager. Outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Matthew Judon are both trade candidates, and San Francisco could actually use both of them.
With the trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 4, the 49ers will surely be active up until that point.
San Francisco clearly has a competitive team, so it needs to try and fill the gaps while it can.
