Steelers Could Still Look To Acquire Big Name Receiver After Previously Being Scared Off

As we get closer to free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft plans will become clearer. Where we stand now, it sounds like they plan to draft a wide receiver in the first round. If they do draft a receiver, it will be the first time they have selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2006 when they snagged Santonio Holmes. They currently sit with the 21st pick, so a trade-up would almost certainly be necessary for them to acquire a top wide receiver prospect. Luckily for the Steelers, there is one very solid receiver who could hit the market with the current state of his team. 

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was highly sought after when his Dolphins looked like one of the worst teams in the league heading into the trade deadline last year. The Dolphins reportedly wanted at least a first-round pick for Waddle and potentially more. The Steelers reportedly felt they were close to acquiring Waddle, but got cold feet and pulled out. This left the Steelers without a viable secondary option to complement DK Metcalf. Now going into the 2026 season, Miami's future doesn't look any brighter. 

The Dolphins are handcuffed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose contract looks worse by the day. He was once a very good quarterback, but ended the season as the team's third-stringer. They likely won't be able to move his contract via trade; they will have to release him. The Dolphins currently rank 29th in cap space and they may be left with no choice but to trade Waddle. Waddle will have an $11,658,800 cap hit in 2026, but that number jumps above $30 million for the next two seasons, with a potential out in 2028. 

Waddle's price will likely have gone down with the lack of leverage the Dolphins have. A first-round pick now seems like an unrealistic price tag. Waddle is still a very good receiver, but he hasn't had 1,000 yards in two seasons. He was in the recently released Tyreek Hill's shadow, but when Hill went down with a gruesome knee injury, Waddle still only had one 100-yard game. He suffered from poor quarterback play, but this is still a significant stat the Steelers could leverage against the Dolphins.

The Dolphins brought in a whole new front office and coaching staff for the 2026 season. They are already cleaning house with the release of veterans, Hill, Bradley Chubb, and former Steelers guard James Daniels. There are likely more veterans who will be moved and it's tough to imagine they hold on to Waddle while his price tag is still valuable. Waddle will turn 28 during the 2026 season and the longer the Dolphins wait, the worse it could get for them. 

Steelers Could Get Lucky With Dolphins' New Staff

The Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley to be their head coach. Hafley was previously the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator and was considered one of the better head-coaching candidates in this cycle. They also hired a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was also from the Packers organization. This new regime has no ties to Waddle, which could also make him available. 

The Dolphins are likely to go through a rebuild for the next two to three seasons, which would likely be the rest of Waddle's prime. They have no reason to keep him on the team, unless they make drastic moves. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan must take action to solidify the Steelers' wide receiver room. Waddle and Metcalf would make the life of the Steelers' next starting quarterback much easier. This would certainly take the pressure off Mike McCarthy, who currently doesn't have much to work with. 

What do you think? Should the Steelers try to acquire Waddle from the Dolphins? What do you think they should give up?

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