10 highest paid players on Miami Dolphins roster for 2022

3. Mike Gesicki – 2022 cap hit: $10,931,000

The first of two of long, drawn out contract negotiations for the Dolphins, Mike Gesicki has been slapped with the franchise tag for 2022. He will be the most expensive player on Miami’s offense, as the one-year tag will pay him nearly $11 million.

He will be tied with Dalton Schultz and David Njoku for 3rd most expensive tight end in the league, as the two were hit with the tag this off season. Still, the combination of Miami’s top two tight ends (Gesicki and Durham Smythe) cost less ($13,681,000) than the second highest paid tight end on the New England Patriots (Jonnu Smith).

2. Emmanuel Ogbah – 2022 cap hit: $11,350,000

The other contract situation that was held over the heads of the Dolphins’ front office last season was that of Emmanuel Ogbah. One of the most consistent producers on a sometimes-dominant defense over the last two seasons, the 6th-year pass rusher deserved a new pay day, but never got one as the season ended without a deal. But during the first days of free agency, Ogbah and the Dolphins agreed on a re-up, and he inked a four-year, $65.4 million contract. His cap hit will increase to over $17 million in 2022, but his $11 million owed in 2022 still makes him the second highest paid player for the upcoming season.

1. Xavien Howard – 2022 cap hit: $16,358,222

The ongoing saga between Xavien Howard and the Miami Dolphins front office is apparently alive and well. After his yearly grumblings about being the second-highest paid player at his position on his own team, there was talk that he may even be unhappy with now being paid less than Tyreek Hill, as well. Whatever the case may be, he will still have the biggest cap hit of any player this season. Howard’s payday will eclipse Ogbah’s by more than $5 million, and will eat up nearly 8 percent of the team’s entire payroll.