Dolphins’ Holland addresses his season and future as free agency nears
After a scintillating first two seasons highlighted by seven takeaways, Jevon Holland looked like a long-term keeper, a potential Pro Bowl player the Dolphins might break the bank for.
But two years later, Holland’s future with the team seems dubious, because of myriad factors: the Dolphins’ lack of cap space next spring, the possibility that Holland could land a lucrative contract elsewhere and a decline in game-changing plays from the fourth-year safety.
Holland, an impending unrestricted free agent, said this week that he would love to return to the Dolphins and that his agent, David Mulugheta, and the team have had conversations. But he seems at peace with whatever happens.
“I would love to be here,” he said in a conversation with two reporters Wednesday. “It’s a great organization. We have a great group of guys in the locker room. That would be dope. But it’s ball. Things happen. Whatever it may be, I was happy I was here and had fun in Miami.”
Holland declined to discuss where contract talks stand, noting only that the Dolphins “went to talk to [Mulugheta], he talked to them, they discussed whatever they discussed. Will keep it at that.”
Mulugheta has negotiated lucrative deals for several other safety clients in the past year, including Xavier McKinney (four years, $68 million with Green Bay), Budda Baker (three-year, $54 million extension with Arizona) and Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield (four years, $84 million; highest for a safety). In 2022, he negotiated a four-year, $76.4 million extension for Chargers safety Derwin James.
“I will be placed right where I need to be,” Holland said. “Christian [Wilkins], Derwin, Budda, Antoine, Xavier, he’s able to put people in places where they can be successful, and they’re also doing it themselves by playing well,” Holland said. “I’m not worried about that. Just having fun while I’m here.”
After forcing a key fumble in the Dolphins’ season-opening win against Jacksonville, Holland hasn’t forced a turnover since. That’s a departure from his first three seasons, when he had five interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
“Of course, I want to make splash plays,” he said. “It’s fun to make those plays. It’s exciting. Of course I want to make those plays. If I’ve got to do the gritty work, grinding work and don’t get the splash plays I need, and we still win and are doing our job, I can’t complain. That’s the job of a defender, being 1/11th.”
Holland has 55 tackles in 14 games, down from 74 in 12 games last season and 96 in 17 games in 2022 and 69 in 16 games as a rookie in 2021.
His passes defended have dropped from 10 as a rookie to seven, four and now three this season.
Asked if he’s pleased personally how his season has gone, Holland said: “I wouldn’t say necessarily pleased or displeased. It is more I’ve learned from the situations I’ve been in, whether positive or negative, whether playing or not playing, affecting the game, not affecting the game, whatever it may be. I’ve learned from it. I’ve grow from them. It’s made me a better professional, better player.”
Holland, 24, has been among the leader in snaps for a defense that ranks third in yards allowed and ninth in points permitted. He was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a wrist injury but sounded like he plans to play on Sunday.
From a health standpoint, “this year I’ve dealt with injuries — hand, ankle. Each year, there are trials and tribulations you’ve got to overcome... [But] my knees are good.”
On Sunday, he returns to MetLife Stadium, the site of one of his greatest plays as a pro; last November, he intercepted a Tim Boyle Hail Mary and returned it 99 yards as the first half ended in the Dolphins’ Black Friday win against the Jets. But he injured both knees in that game and missed the next four games, before returning for two and then missing the playoff game in Kansas City.
“I was in the right place at the right time,” he said of that pick-six. “It’s going to be fun to play there again.”
The Dolphins’ other starting safety, Jordan Poyer, also is set to become a free agent after the season.
But if this is the end for Holland in Miami, another pick-six would be quite a way to go out.
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM.
