The Miami Dolphins made a splash move to improve their defense ahead of today's trade deadline.
The Dolphins acquired pass-rusher Bradley Chubb from the Denver Broncos for a package that includes a 2023 first-round pick, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, per sources informed of the situation.
Miami had an extra first-rounder from a previous trade with San Francisco 49ers that it will ship to Denver. The Dolphins also sent a 2024 fourth-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds to the Broncos for Chubb and a 2025 fifth-rounder. The Dolphins later replaced Edmonds in the backfield by trading for 49ers running back Jeff Wilson, per Pelissero.
The Broncos have since announced the trade.
Sitting at 5-3, in the thick of the AFC playoff race, the move bolsters a Dolphins defense that has been gorged for stretches this season. Miami has held just two opponents under 340 yards this season.
Miami has generated 15 sacks on the season, tied for the ninth fewest in the NFL through eight weeks.
Finally healthy, Chubb has performed well this season in Denver, netting 5.5 sacks and 26 total pressures. He'll immediately upgrade the Dolphins' edge alongside Jaelen Phillips and Melvin Ingram.
Trading Chubb signals that Broncos general manager George Paton didn't plan to franchise tag the pass rusher and wasn't going to pay big money to retain the former first-round pick with an injury history. Getting a first-round selection back is a stellar move.
Denver went ahead and added a pass rusher minutes after letting go of Chubb. The Broncos acquired Jacob Martin and a 2024 fifth-round pick from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick, per Rapoport.
At 3-5, the Broncs were a prime sell candidate ahead of the trade deadline, needing to replenish the draft capital following the Russell Wilson trade in the offseason. Chubb was the biggest chip in Paton's arsenal.
"This was a difficult decision that involved many considerations as we work to build a championship team," Paton said in a Tuesday statement. "We have great confidence in our players, including a talented group of pass rushers, and this trade brings us significant draft capital to continue improving our roster.
"Our goals and expectations of winning -- and sustaining that success in pursuit of a Super Bowl -- will not change. We believe in this team and are excited for the opportunity we have in the second half of the year."
Getting Edmonds back in the deal will help a Broncos backfield that has become a committee after losing Javonte Williams for the season to a knee injury. Mike Boone also went down with an ankle injury in Week 7. Edmonds was ineffective in Mike McDaniel's scheme in Miami and outplayed by Raheem Mostert. After signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Dolphins in the offseason, Edmonds will compete with Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray for snaps in Denver. Edmonds has no guaranteed money on his contract in 2023.
