Dolphins entering final year of contracts try to make their case; two already rewarded
Who’s next?
That’s the question for a couple of dozen Dolphins entering the final year of their contracts, after watching the team give extensions to potential 2024 free agents Zach Sieler and Alec Ingold.
The Dolphins are more than $25 million above the 2024 salary cap, so Miami must be selective. But there are several other key Dolphins looking to convince the team to give them another contract.
Sieler became the first of those potential 2024 free agents to sign an extension recently when he agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $37 million, with $20 million guaranteed. Ingold became the second, agreeing to a three-year contract that could be worth as much as $17.2 million. Both are now signed through 2026.
Negotiations with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have been tabled after months of discussions that ultimately led nowhere. Wilkins’ representation reportedly believes he should be paid among the top defensive tackles in football because he’s durable, reliable and makes more tackles than any interior lineman in the game (98 last season).
This summer, Quinnen Williams signed a four-year, $96 million deal with the Jets ($24 million per season) after a 55-tackle, 12-sack season. But the Dolphins seem disinclined to pay Wilkins quite that much because his sack numbers (3.5 last season, 11.5 in his career) are modest, as are his tackles for loss (33 in four years).
The amount of guaranteed money is the final hurdle in those negotiations, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Now, talks have been tabled until after the season, general manager Chris Grier indicated last week.
Wilkins has not asked for a trade and the Dolphins have not made him available in trade talks.
Among the other multiyear Dolphins who are trying to make their case this season, 6 ½ months from potential free agency:
▪ Defensive lineman Raekwon Davis: He was a big reason why the Dolphins had the fourth-best run defense in football last season. When he missed three games in 2021, the Dolphins allowed 35 more yards per game rushing than they did otherwise.
“Right now, I feel this is probably going to be the best year for me,” he said. “I’m feeling the best. I’ve definitely got a lot of goals for myself.... I’m going to achieve them.”
Davis has had only 1.5 sacks in three NFL seasons, but believes this year could be different. If he can come anywhere close to his 8.5 sacks in his sophomore year at Alabama, his 2024 paychecks will be far bigger.
“I did a lot of pass-rushing training this offseason, just to get better because I know I’m going to need it for this year,” he said. “Going into this new defensive scheme, I’m definitely going to have to be able to pass rush and keep a high motor.”
▪ Robert Hunt: He’s not that far off from being a Pro Bowl type guard.
PFF ranked him ninth among 78 guards last season, including seventh as a run blocker. He allowed three sacks and 21 pressures in 675 pass blocking snaps. He was called for only three penalties.
With another good season, Hunt could command a deal in the range of the $7 million or more annually.
Asked if his representation has spoken to the Dolphins about an extension, Hunt said: “It’s not something that’s being done right now, I don’t think. Of course, everybody wants that second [contract]. Just going to keep my head down, keep working. I think the football Gods will look out for me.”
Hunt is blunt about his game: “I do a lot of things well at times and it looks really good. Sometimes I do things that don’t look as good. It is consistency and hopefully I can take my game to the next level. Being able to do it for four quarters [is a goal]. I can do it early on. I need to be able to do it for four quarters.”
▪ Center Connor Williams: He sat out the offseason program, hoping the Dolphins would rip up his two-year, $14 million deal and give him a new one. That hasn’t happened yet.
He had some snapping issues this preseason but played well in his first year at center last season; PFF ranked him fourth of 40 NFL centers, including third as a run blocker. He allowed three sacks but just 15 pressures in 676 pass blocking.
▪ Safety Brandon Jones: The question is whether playing in Vic Fangio’s defense — which blitzes less than predecessor Josh Boyer’s — will limit his sack and pressure numbers, which were among the NFL’s best before his October ACL injury.
A good year could earn him a deal for several million dollars annually, depending in part on how new Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott (Jones’ roommate at Texas) plays on his one-year contract.
▪ Right tackle Austin Jackson: A decision looms on the 18th overall pick in the 2020 draft after Miami declined to exercise his fifth-year option by the May deadline. If he stays healthy - which he couldn’t last year - and proves to be an above average right tackle, he’ll be worth several million annually on the open market.
▪ Several Dolphins signed one-year deals, including Elliott, Braxton Berrios, Nik Needham, Isaiah Wynn, Andrew Van Ginkel, Kendall Lamm, Eli Apple and punter Jake Bailey.
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 10:37 AM.
