The Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle reportedly have reached an agreement on a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension that includes $76 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The new contract for Jaylen Waddle means he is under contract for the next five seasons with the Dolphins, through the 2028 NFL season. He will now be one of the league's top five highest-paid receivers.
Waddle was selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and has been a vital weapon for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa since. He has recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in the league, and now he is locked in long-term alongside Tyreek Hill.
Tyreek Hill is locked in through the 2026 season, and he will be 33 when he becomes a free agent. Waddle is the younger of the two entering his age 26 season, so it makes sense to have him under contract for longer. He is now under contract through his age 30 season.
Waddle's contract with the Dolphins pays him $28.25 million a year, which puts him as the fourth highest paid receiver in the league, behind AJ Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Hill. Both Brown and St. Brown extended this offseason, while Hill signed his deal a few years ago. The market is set for top receivers who still need deals like Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb, and all three of those receivers should get hefty paydays. The Dolphins locking in Waddle now seems smart, especially as he likely prepares to become the main option in the offense as Hill enters the latter stages of his prime.
What is next for the Dolphins?
The biggest remaining question is what will the Dolphins do with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa? Miami drafted him in 2020, and he has been a solid quarterback for them over his career, but he has not yet secured a long-term contract, like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert did from his draft class. He is in line to get paid soon, and whether or not the Dolphins do that likely comes down to what Mike McDaniel believes is possible with Tagovailoa under center. Tagovailoa is in the final year of his rookie deal, which means a decision needs to be made soon, whether that be this summer or after the 2024 season.
Safety Jevon Holland is also in the final year of his rookie deal, and the Dolphins could try to extend him as well. With some big contracts on the books already, it is a question as to whether or not Miami will be able to extend Holland. Given that he is a safety, the Dolphins could decide to move on, as that is not seen as a premium position.
The Dolphins have a competitive team and it is good to get Waddle secured long-term, but some big decisions still loom to make sure the rosters stays competitive for years to come.
Follow Us
Subscribe
