The Miami Dolphins are reportedly working to get two of their players under longer term deals as free agency looms.
In 2016 Reshad Jones threatened to hold out two years into his four year contract extension. The Dolphins refused to address the contract Jones’ holdout lasted one day during OTA’s. Now with one year left on his deal and coming off a season ending shoulder injury, the Dolphins reportedly are working on a new deal.
Earlier this week the Kansas City Chiefs made Eric Berry the highest paid safety in the NFL with a $78 million contract that came with a $20 million signing bonus and $40 million guaranteed. The contract is for six seasons. The contract will not be the floor or the ceiling for discussions with Jones but Jones feels as though he is the best at his position so the Berry deal will at least be brought up.
In addition to Jones the Dolphins Chris Grier indicated to the media on Thursday that the team is still negotiating with wide-receiver Kenny Stills. It was reported last week and earlier this week that Stills was going to land a deal in the $10-12 million a year range but a new rumor has put the deal closer to $8 million. The Dolphins would like to have Stills back and Stills has said both privately and publicly that he wants to remain in Miami.
Negotiations will continue but nothing is imminent. Other teams can start negotiating with the agents for NFL impending free agents on the 7th of March.
Linebacker Kiko Alonso is also reportedly negotiating with the Dolphins on a new deal as well. The linebacker had recently made it known to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald that he wants to remain in the middle. The Dolphins reportedly wanted to move him outside. Salguero said yesterday in a Herald post that the Dolphins are aware of his desires.
Alonso is a restricted free agent and the Dolphins will have the right to match any contracts he receives on the open market but they hope to have him tied up before the market opens on March 9th.
Nothing is imminent with any of the contracts and the Dolphins, via the Sun-Sentinel have stated that negotiations with Still’s and his agents are at the talking stages. Things do tend to get moving faster as the start of free agency approaches. There is no immediate rush for Reshad Jones as he has a year left on his current contract but the Dolphins would like to get him locked up long before that.