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Dolphins trade rumors: Who could Miami deal ahead of 2025 NFL trade deadline?
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- Dolphins trade rumors: Who could Miami deal ahead of 2025 NFL trade deadline?
The Miami Dolphins are coming off a win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, but it doesn't seem likely to change the trajectory of their season.
Through eight games, the Dolphins have a 2-6 record. They are behind both the New England Patriots (6-2) and Buffalo Bills (5-2) in the AFC East race and enter Week 9 sitting at 14th in the conference as a whole.
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Perhaps the Dolphins will change their calculus if they can earn an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens on "Thursday Night Football." But more likely, a loss in that contest would accelerate the team's plans to offload players ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 4.
Which Dolphins players could be on the move? The Dolphins might not be willing to deal their top offensive playmaker, but there are still a handful of defensive players and a young running back that could find themselves playing elsewhere in Week 10 and beyond.
Below are the latest Dolphins trade candidates and rumors ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
WR Jaylen Waddle
Waddle's name has been bandied about as a trade candidate, but will the Dolphins actually trade the 26-year-old wide receiver? It doesn't seem likely.
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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Oct. 18 that "several teams have called the Dolphins" to inquire about acquiring Waddle. The team has thus far shown "no interest" in dealing the five-year veteran.
It's understandable the Dolphins would want to hang onto Waddle. Miami already lost Tyreek Hill to a gruesome knee dislocation , so Waddle is by far the team's best receiver. Add in that Waddle is under contract through the 2028 NFL season and that trading him would create more than $23.2 million in dead cap space in 2026, per Spotrac.com , and it seems the Dolphins will hold onto him barring a "Godfather" offer.
JAYLEN WADDLE LANDING SPOTS: Steelers, Giants, best fits if Dolphins trade WR
EDGEs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips
Plenty of NFL teams are looking for help on the edge ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline. Miami is one of the few teams with options to spare at that position, which could lead them to trade one of their veteran pass rushers, as ESPN's Adam Schefter noted on an Oct. 28 version of his podcast .
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"I think the Miami Dolphins will move at least one of their pass rushers – either Jaelan Phillips or Bradley Chubb ," Schefter said.
Why would the Dolphins consider such a move? They could likely get a bounty from a contender in need of pass rush help. Trading either Chubb or Phillips, who have led the team in edge rusher snaps this season, would also allow 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson to get more snaps. The Penn State product has been relegated to a backup role behind the veterans in 2025.
It isn't clear whether the Dolphins would prefer to trade Chubb or Phillips, but Phillips would likely fetch a larger package. The 26-year-old is three years younger than Chubb, has generated 27 pressures compared to his 19 and grades 52nd among 119 edge defenders, per Pro Football Focus , while Chubb grades 89th.
EDGE Matthew Judon
While Chubb and Phillips represent higher-end edge deals Miami could make, the Dolphins appear most willing to trade Judon, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler .
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Judon, 33, has logged eight tackles across seven games with the Dolphins but hasn't generated a sack. He has logged just four total pressures across 132 total snaps, indicating his best days could be behind him.
Still, Judon was a Pro Bowler for four consecutive seasons from 2019-22. That could potentially convince a contending team to execute a late-round pick swap to see what Judon might have left in the tank. The Dolphins would likely take whatever they can get for him, as he hasn't played more than 20 snaps in a game since Week 1.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Dolphins acquired Fitzpatrick as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade with the Steelers during the offseason. Could the three-time All-Pro be on the move again? ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote on Oct. 22 that Fitzpatrick was "on (his) radar" as a potential trade candidate ahead of the trade deadline.
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Fitzpatrick, 28, has made three consecutive Pro Bowls and has notched 45 tackles and an interception through eight games to start the season. He has allowed a 79.8 passer rating in coverage, per Pro Football Focus , and grades as the website's 10th-best safety among 88 qualifiers.
RB Jaylen Wright
Wright was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but ESPN's Dan Graziano indicated the Tennessee product "could also be a player who moves" at the trade deadline.
Wright was inactive for the Dolphins' first six games of the season and did not log an offensive touch until Week 8. At that point, he handled nine carries for 28 yards in a blowout win for the Dolphins.
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Is that a sign coach Mike McDaniel wants to get the speedster more involved behind De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II , or were the Dolphins simply showcasing the 22-year-old ahead of the deadline? Either way, Wright seems firmly planted as the No. 3 option on Miami's backfield depth chart.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dolphins trade rumors, candidates to be moved before trade deadline
