The Miami Dolphins announced the team’s use of the fifth-year option for both 2021 first-round picks.
The Miami Dolphins selected sixth and 18th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Those two first-round picks turned into wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who have established themselves as integral parts of the team as they head into their fourth season. On Monday, the Dolphins guaranteed both players will be with the team for a fifth year.
Under NFL rules, all draft picks sign four-year contracts, with varying amounts of overall and guaranteed salaries. Included in the contract for any first-round draft choice is a fifth-year team option that keeps the player with his initial team for an additional year. In exchange, the team fully guarantees the player’s salary for that fifth season, with the salary set based on different tiers: basic, playing time, one Pro Bowl selection, and multiple Pro Bowl selections.
Neither Waddle nor Phillips have been selected to a Pro Bowl, bringing them down a couple of tiers. The playing time criteria, according to OverTheCap.com, has to meet one of three marks: 75 percent or greater playing time in two of three seasons, average 75 percent playing time over all three seasons, or 50 percent playing time in all three seasons. Waddle reaches that mark while Phillips receives the basic tier salary for his position, largely due to missed playing time last year when an Achilles tear limited him to just eight games played.
Waddle’s salary, based on an average of the 3rd through 20th highest salaries at the wide receiver position over the past five years, will be $15.6 million in 2025. Phillips’ salary will be $13.3 million and was based on the average of the 3rd through 25th highest salaries at the linebacker position over the past five years.
In his three seasons, Waddle has appeared in 47 games, starting all of them, with 251 receptions for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led the league with an 18.1 yards per reception average in 2022 and has topped the 1,000-yard mark every season.
Phillips has appeared in 42 games, starting 26 times, in his three seasons. He has recorded 146 tackles, five passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and 22 sacks.
The team had until May 2 to exercise the options, but it had already stated it would be using them. The team has also said it plans to work on a contract extension for safety Jevon Holland, the team’s second-round pick in 2021, who is entering the final year of his contract.
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