Must the Dolphins Sign Their Up-and-Coming Players?
Safety for the Miami Dolphins Jevon Holland expressed his happiness on social media on Wednesday after his college teammate Penei Sewell signed a huge contract extension.
Holland is not the only member of the Dolphins’ 2021 draft class who will surely be looking for his own contract extension sooner rather than later.
And it’s possible that the Dolphins would be wise to take a cue from the Detroit Lions on this particular day, who signed wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in addition to Sewell, and from the Philadelphia Eagles, who extended the contract of DeVonta Smith, a first-round pick in 2021.’
DOLPHINS NEED TO KEEP THEIR YOUNG STARS Holland is among a group of young Dolphins players with looming contract situations, along with QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle and OLB Jaelan Phillips. Tagovailoa is under contract for 2024 with the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but all signs have pointed toward the Dolphins signing him to an extension at some point this year. Holland, Waddle and Phillips all are under contract for 2024, and GM Chris Grier already has said the team will exercise the fifth-year option for 2025 for both Waddle and Phillips — and the move will become official sometime before the deadline May 2.
As he enters a legitimate contract year and is currently slated to become an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2019, Holland is in a different league.
As three successful draft selections, Waddle, Phillips, and Waddle undoubtedly comprise the core of young talent on the Dolphins roster, in contrast to the expensive players acquired through trades or free agency, such as Bradley Chubb, Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, and Terron Armstead.
The concept of draft-and-develop, which more often yields steady success than extravagant spending, is best represented by the three 2021 draft selections.
However, Waddle, Phillips, and Holland will eventually need to be paid, and paid handsomely, and retaining them will only become more expensive if they continue to improve.
The Dolphins would then be at risk of being priced out, as was the case this offseason with Robert Hunt and Christian Wilkins. Due to their exorbitant price tag, the Dolphins were unable to retain these two additional in-house players.
When it comes to Holland, Waddle, and Phillips, the Dolphins may want to be proactive, especially if they have determined that they are keepers.
