The ticking clock on Jaylen Waddle’s contract extension continues to grow louder, and with each passing day, the cost of keeping the dynamic wide receiver in Miami seems to be trending upward – a situation Dolphins’ General Manager Chris Grier might soon regret not addressing sooner.
While the Dolphins have appeared quite patient, perhaps too patient, with Waddle’s extension, recent developments in the NFL could see them facing steeper costs than anticipated. The reference point for negotiations could have been the $75 million extension secured by DeVonta Smith with Philadelphia. However, Chris Grier’s decision to bide time has likely backfired with the market rates pushing further up.
The landscape shifted significantly when Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed to a staggering $120 million extension with the Detroit Lions, including a $77 million guarantee, translating to an eye-watering $30 million a year over four years. This deal undoubtedly sets a new benchmark in the wide receiver market.
The situation for Miami turns even more pressing when considering Jaylen Waddle’s credentials and potential. Drafted 6th overall in the same 2021 class that saw St.
Brown go in the fourth round, Waddle’s pedigree and performance suggest that his contract would naturally demand figures at or beyond the ballpark of St. Brown’s, especially considering St.
Brown’s Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro distinction.
Grier is now sandwiched between Smith and St. Brown’s deals as potential frameworks for Waddle’s extension, a scenario that could have been more favorable had action been taken sooner. The prevailing wisdom would suggest striking a deal with Waddle sooner rather than later, as the wide receiver market only seems to be inflating, a trend likely spurred on further by increases in the salary cap.
For Jaylen Waddle, playing the waiting game could be financially advantageous, given the likelihood of contract values continuing their upward surge. On the flip side, Chris Grier might be ruing a missed opportunity to lock down Waddle at a rate influenced by Smith’s extension, avoiding the current predicament where St. Brown’s deal has potentially altered the expectations for future wide receiver contracts, including Waddle’s.
The message is clear: to secure Waddle’s future in Miami, the Dolphins should act swiftly, lest the cost of delay becomes prohibitively expensive. With the dynamics of NFL contracts continually evolving, Miami’s decision-making now could very well define their competitive and financial landscape for years to come.