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Payroll players
Omar Kelly breaks down the 10 highest-paid Dolphins
One of the best ways to analyze why an NFL team is or isn’t competitive each season is to examine that franchise’s payroll. Are the players eating up the majority of the team’s $177 million salary cap impactful contributors who create game-changing plays? Or are they overpriced disappointments?
The Miami Dolphins have a mixture of both on owner Steve Ross’ payroll this coming season.
This list only factors in the money paid or due in the 2018 season, and doesn’t take into account a player’s cap number and bonuses triggered by incentives.
Here’s a look at the 10 Dolphins players with the most expensive price tags in 2018:
QB Ryan Tannehill — $17,500,000
Tannehill hasn’t been sensational in his 77 starts (37-40 record) since 2012, but he’s gotten better in some aspect of his game each season, and that trend will likely continue in 2018 in his return from the left knee injury that sidelined him the past 20 games. This could be the 29-year-old’s last chance to prove that there’s more upside than his career 86.5 passer rating indicates because the Dolphins can clear all of his $18.75 million salary
in 2019 by making him a June 1 cut. But if Tannehill’s respectable this season, he’s a bargain at this price. Tannehill will be the 11th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, coming in just behind Denver’s Case Keenum and ahead of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.
DE Robert Quinn — $11,444,412
Quinn, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will be the eighth highest-paid defensive end in the NFL this season. Last year, Quinn contributed 32 tackles and 8.5 sacks while working as a linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. The hope is that the 27-year-old will regain the form that helped him record 62.5 sacks and force 20 fumbles in seven seasons with his return to an end role in a 4-3 scheme. If he remains productive, the Dolphins shouldn’t have a problem honoring his $12.9 million salary in 2019.
OT Ja’Wuan James — $9,341,000
The Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on James’ contract, which makes him the second-highest-paid right tackle in 2018. He only trails Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson, who will make $10.5 million this season. For this price, the Dolphins should be getting more consistent play from their 2014 first-round pick who has started all 47 of the games he’s played. James is an impending free agent, so his performance this season will likely determine if he lands a $40 million-$50 million contract with Miami, or elsewhere.
S Reshad Jones — $9,375,000
Jones, a two-time Pro Bowler, is beginning his ninth season with the Dolphins, and eighth as a starter. He’s the third-highestpaid safety in the NFL, behind Kansas City’s Eric Berry and the Los Angeles Rams’ LaMarcus Joyner. The Dolphins restructured Jones’ contract this offseason, reworking the four-year, $48 million deal he signed last offseason to provide the franchise roughly $6.6 million in salary-cap relief. Jones is guaranteed $11.1 million next season, so he should be viewed as a building block.
DE Cameron Wake — $8,125,000
Wake begins his 10th season with the Dolphins intent on putting the finishing touches on a career worthy of Ring of Honor recognition, and possibly Hall of Fame consideration. At this stage in his career the 36-year-old is primarily used as a pass-rushing specialist, but limiting his snaps hasn’t hindered his productivity, considering he produced 22 sacks the past two seasons.
DE Andre Branch — $8,000,000
Branch begins his second, and possibly last year of the threeyear, $24 million deal he signed with Miami last offseason. To continue being one of the Dolphins’ top earners, securing his $7 million salary in 2019, Branch needs to contribute more than the 23 tackles and 4.5 sacks he recorded in 2017, a season where his productivity was hindered by knee issues. Robert Quinn’s addition, William Hayes’ return, and Charles Harris’ first-round status means that Branch is Miami’s most expendable player, so don’t be surprised if there’s discussion about moving him before the trade deadline.
WR Kenny Stills — $8,000,000
Stills begins Year 2 of the fouryear, $32 million contract he signed last offseason with Miami. Considering Stills, who caught 58 passes for 847 yards and six touchdowns last season, is a team captain, his $8 million salary in 2019 and $7 million in 2020 can be viewed as a bargain. So it would be hard to envision Stills not finishing out the contract. If he stays healthy, Stills might emerge as the Dolphins’ top receiver in 2018 because of his chemistry with Ryan Tannehill.
LB Kiko Alonso — $7,925,000
Alonso concludes the guaranteed portion of the four-year, $28.91 million contract he signed last offseason, which means he’ll need to play well to earn the $6.51 million due in 2019. Last season Alonso registered 115 tackles, one sack and forced two fumbles, and played in all 16 games for the first time since his rookie season. While Alonso’s not a dominant player, Miami has little depth behind him at linebacker.
G Josh Sitton — $6,500,000
Sitton, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has started 137 of the 147 games he’s played the past 10 seasons. The 32 year old was signed to a two-year, $13.5 million deal this offseason to help stabilize the interior of Miami’s offensive line, which has typically been at the root of this team’s troubles, and help Laremy Tunsil develop into a respectable left tackle. If Sitton achieves both, Miami’s offense should reach new heights this season.
WR Danny Amendola — $6,000,000
Amendola, a nine-year veteran with 426 career receptions and 19 touchdowns, was signed to a two-year, $12 million deal this offseason to serve as Jarvis Landry’s replacement in the slot. Amendola, who has a knack for creating space from defensive backs, must prove that he can stay healthy, and remain productive at 32 to earn next year’s $6 million salary, which isn’t guaranteed.