Jaylen Waddle is a wide receiver in the NFL who plays for the Miami Dolphins. Waddle was born on November 25, 1998, in Houston, Texas. Growing up in Texas, Waddle was always athletic as a kid and he played football for his high school team as a wide receiver and kick returner. In terms of physical attributes, Waddle is not the tallest or strongest receiver in the NFL. He is among the smallest ones in the league. However, even though he is not physically gifted in that regard, Waddle has good acceleration and speed, both attributes that help him get open.
Drafted in 2021 by the Miami Dolphins as the 6th overall pick, he was once again reunited with his college quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. In 2022, the Dolphins added arguably the best receiver in the game, Tyreek Hill and in tandem, the duo can stretch the field with their lightning speed.
Jaylen Waddle's Contract Breakdown
Jaylen Waddle signed a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension with the Miami Dolphins in March 2024, being his first offseason of eligibility for one as per Spotrac. The deal keeps Waddle under contract until 2028 for a total value of $104.6 million.
Further, a signing bonus of $18.8 million is included in the $76 million guaranteed value of the deal, with $36 million fully guaranteed at signing. Since his 2026 and 2027 salaries include early vesting mechanisms, this contract effectively lasts for four years and is worth $77.3 million.
Waddle’s extended contract breakdown is as follows:
| Contract Terms | Avg Salary | Signing | GTD at Sign | Total GTD | Free Agent |
| 3 yr(s) / $84,750,000 | $28,250,000 | $18,873,000 | $35,978,000 | $76,000,000 | 2029 / UFA |
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Signing | Roster | Roster/Gm | Workout | Cap Hit | Cap % | Dead Cap |
| 2024 | 26 | $1,055,000 | $8,039,326 | - | - | - | $9,094,326 | 3.56% | $40,242,726 |
| 2025 | 27 | $16,050,000 | $3,774,600 | - | - | $100,000 | $19,924,600 | 7.29% | $31,148,400 |
| 2026 | 28 | $16,631,000 | $3,774,600 | - | $510,000 | $100,000 | $21,015,600 | 7.19% | $11,323,800 |
| 2027 | 29 | $23,390,000 | $3,774,600 | - | $510,000 | $100,000 | $27,774,600 | 8.88% | $7,549,200 |
| Potential Out: 2028, 4 Year, $77,319,000; $3,774,600 Dead Cap | |||||||||
| 2028 | 30 | $25,764,000 | $3,774,600 | $1,000,000 | $510,000 | $100,000 | $31,148,600 | 9.30% | $3,774,600 |
| 2029 | 31 | UFA | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
How much is Jaylen Waddle getting paid?
Waddle's average annual earnings of $28.5 million with the 2024 Dolphins' extension as per Spotrac. Though the original deal was through 2025, his excellent performance has more or less made the extension obvious, considering that Waddle has caught 251 passes for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first three seasons, including three consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards or more.
In the 2024 season, Waddle will earn a base salary of $1 million and a signing bonus of $8 million, leading to a cap hit of $9 million and a dead cap value of $40.2 million. Notably, he also received $35.9 million at signing in March.
How much does Jaylen Waddle make in a minute?
Jaylen Waddle will earn $17.3 per minute in the 2024-25 NFL season, based on his $9 million earnings as per contract, divided minutes in a year being 525,600 minutes.
Jaylen Waddle's Career Earnings
Jaylen Waddle’s total career earnings are $42.6 million as of September 2024, according to Spotrac.
What are the terms of Jaylen Waddle Contract?
The terms of the Dolphins contract with Waddle guarantee $35.9 million at signing, which includes the 2024 salary of $1 million, the 2025 salary of $16 million and the signing bonus of $18.8 million. His 2026 salary of $16.6 million will be guaranteed by March 2025, regardless of injury.
However, Waddle's 2027 salary is divided into two parts: the first half of $15.2 million will be guaranteed after March 2026, and the remaining $8.1 million in March 2027, for a total of $23.3 million, regardless of injury.
Moreover, the contract also offers a 2028 roster bonus of $1 million, if Waddle is still on the active roster by March 2028. There is also a clause for per game bonus, as per which, Waddle will earn $30,000 per game from 2025 to 2028, totaling $510,000 for 17 regular season games per season.
How much of Jaylen Waddle Contract is guaranteed?
The three-year $84.75 million contract extension of Waddle guarantees a total of $76 million, and $35.9 million was guaranteed at signing, as per Spotrac.
Jaylen Waddle's Contract History
Jaylen Waddle's rookie contract was with the Miami Dolphins in 2021 for four years, worth $27 million, and an average salary of $6.7 million. However, the Dolphins extended the contract for three more seasons in March 2024.
Waddle's contract ran through the 2025 season at an inexpensive rookie rate of $8.6 million. A fifth-year option that Miami had picked up in April increases the amount to $15.6 million, which means that the extension he signed won't become effective until 2026, according to the NFL.
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FAQs on Jaylen Waddle
A. Jaylen Waddle is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) in height. He is slightly less than the average height for an NFL receiver.
A. Jaylen Waddle weighs 182 lb (83 kg).
A. Jaylen Waddle went to the University of Alabama where he played football on the Alabama Crimson Tide’s football team.
A. Jaylen Waddle Sr. and Lesha Redmon are the parents of Jaylen Waddle.
A. Jaylen Waddle holds the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie with 104.
