After Dolphins extend wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who else could get new contract?

The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to a contract extension on Thursday. Who could be next for a new deal?

The Miami Dolphins agreed to a contract extension with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on Thursday, adding three years and $84.75 million to his contract. The new deal, averaging $28.25 million per year is the fourth highest average for a wide receiver in the league, trailing A.J. Brown, ($32 million per year), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million), and fellow Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($30 million). The extension keeps Waddle with the Dolphins through 2028.

Miami signing a player to a contract extension is not a surprise, but the first deal being with Waddle was a little unexpected. Following the Waddle deal, it is time for us to take a look at the other players who could – or should – be in line for a new contract.

Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback

This one is obvious. The Dolphins and Tagovailoa are in talks to work out a new contract for the Pro Bowl quarterback, but nothing is signed as we approach the end of May. Is it worrisome that the two sides have not come to an agreement, leaving Tagovailoa to play on his fifth-year option, the final year of his rookie contract, until an extension is completed? Not really. It is not an easy deal, with the Dolphins likely looking for injury protections and ways to continue to build around what is expected a huge deal for the team’s 2020 fifth-overall draft pick. A deal will get done at some point, with the real question being how high up the all-time salary list Tagovailoa will land.

Jevon Holland, safety

Just behind Tagovailoa in the extension priority is Holland, who has become one of the top safeties in the league. Holland, the 36th overall pick, a second-round selection in 2021, does not have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, with that language limited to just first-round selections. Miami can use the franchise tag on Holland for the 2025 season if they cannot reach a new deal before then. Still, signing him to a long-term contract would make more sense, keeping one of their own with the team for an extended time and keeping his salary cap number low for as long as possible.

Tyreek Hill, wide receiver

Hill is under contract through 2026, though the scheduled $56.3 million salary cap hit in that final year guarantees Hill will either sign a new contract or be released. Miami’s problem is that Hill is a unique weapon in the NFL and should be the top-paid wide receiver in the league. Right now, that is an average of more than $32 million per year, surpassing Brown’s number, but the longer the Dolphins wait, the more that number could go up when other receivers sign new deals. Miami has to address Hill’s future, and it may be better to agree to a new deal now than wait until they have to offer even more than the $32 million. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Hill is already looking for a new contract.

Nik Needham, defensive back

The Dolphins seem to really like Needham and the versatility he brings to the roster. He has signed back-to-back one-year deals to remain with the team, but as the coaches spend more time developing him as a safety, moving him out of his natural nickel cornerback position, it would seem worthwhile to sign Needham to a longer deal. He was limited in his playing time last year after returning from a torn Achilles sustained during the 2022 season, but he could prove to have a bigger role on the defense this season – and the Dolphins sure seem to be highlighting him more in their social media posts. Needham may not be the most critical extension for the Dolphins, but he should at least be a consideration.

David Long, Jr., linebacker

The Dolphins signed Long as a free agent in 2023, agreeing to a two-year deal after he spent four years with the Tennessee Titans. He started all 17 games last year, tallying a career-high 113 tackles. He is now entering the last year of the free agent deal with Miami while still be templated as their starting inside linebacker. If the coaches see him as a long-term veteran presence in the middle of their defense, they could look to sign him to an extension.

Restricted Free Agent consideration

Kader Kohou, cornerback (RFA)

Kohou has moved from a 2022 undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M – Commerce to a two-year starter on the Dolphins defense. He needs to continue to develop, but he is a solid nickel cornerback and can provide depth on the boundary as well. Kohou is scheduled to be a restricted free agent in 2025, so there is no requirement for the Dolphins to sign him to a long-term deal now, but he could be someone they want to keep for longer than one year as well.