With Jaylen Waddle now under contract until the 2028 season, the Miami Dolphins can now focus their attention on other players both on and off the current roster. The move to get a Waddle deal done was something general manager Chris Grier was hoping to finalize.
Thankfully, he was able to do just that, with Waddle putting the pen to paper on a three-year extension worth $84.75 million, with $76 million guaranteed. Yes, this is a major offseason win for the front office, but the hard work is not done. Here are four more moves the Dolphins need to focus on after getting things across the line with Waddle.
4. A Tua Tagovailoa extension
With Waddle done, will the Dolphins get his quarterback under contract for the long haul as well? There was earlier speculation that Miami may have turned their attention toward Waddle after discussions with Tua Tagovailoa's camp broke down. I wouldn't buy into that line of thinking. Tagovailoa's contract is going to be far more technical and cost a lot more money.
Tagovailoa's contract is the big fish in the frying pan so to speak, but it isn't done yet and some believe it isn't close. Tagovailoa will likely get around $50-52 million per season. It's a big chunk of money for a guy that has not won a playoff game and has had one statistically dominant season.
If a deal with Tagovailoa is going to get done, it will likely come sometime in June or July ahead of training camp. At that point, it will be interesting if Tagovailoa joins the team for practices or if he holds out. So far, there has been no indication that he intends to do so. It was also great to see him with Miami for OTAs. Soon enough, we'll find out if Grier can make him happy too.
3. An extension for Jaelan Phillips
Jaelan Phillips and Waddle came to the Miami Dolphins in the same round of the same draft, but Phillips' situation is a bit different. Waddle is healthy, but Phillips is not healthy yet after going down with a season-ending injury in 2023.
There are two lines of thought to this situation. One, the Dolphins could get a deal done now with the hopes of it costing less since Phillips is still on the road to recovery. It may save them some money down the road. The other thought is to wait and see how the 2024 season plays out and that might be the better option of the two.
The Dolphins have Phillips under contract through the 2025 season because they picked up his fifth-year option. Waiting on Phillips might be a smart move, but it wouldn't be one that would make fans happy. Phillips is a fan favorite in Miami and people want to see him get paid too, especially after his draft mate in Waddle got his bag.
2. Sign free-agent safety Justin Simmons
Until Justin Simmons is signed, it doesn't matter that he will be expensive. He would immediately improve the Dolphins' secondary and would give Anthony Weaver a solid trio of safeties to run the 3-high look. Simmons had a great season in 2023, making the Pro Bowl for the Broncos.
He was a cap casualty with Denver and has been a free agent since March. Why Simmons isn't under contract is a big question, and it could be because he is asking for too much money. That might be true, and he could be seeking more than a one-year deal, which Grier likely won't get done for him.
However, with money opening up on June 1 following the Xavien Howard release becoming official, the Dolphins will have $18 million more to work with. This doesn't mean the Dolphins should overspend for someone like Simmons, but it could give Grier and the front office more resources to try and make something work.
1. Finalize an extension with Jevon Holland
Jevon Holland is Miami's next big contract that needs to be addressed. He isn't under a fifth-year option and will play in 2024 without a contract beyond next season. If he hits free agency in 2025, he will be one of the highest-paid safeties in the league - fans will hate to see him walk out the door for nothing.
The Dolphins may be trying to lowball him, and if that is the case, Holland would likely bet on himself like Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt did and let it play out for a bigger payday. The longer Holland's deal isn't addressed, the more likely he could become a free agent, as the Dolphins are not known for midseason contract negotiations.
Getting him signed before the start of the league new year in March 2025 may not be possible. For the Dolphins, it could be a matter of waiting until after June 1 when there will be more money available. Regardless, Grier needs to figure things out with Holland soon. No one wants this to be his last campaign in South Florida.