Work out, stay in shape, get a $100,000 bonus
Newly acquired Miami Dolphins tight end Julius Thomas restructured his contract, eliminating $12.6 million from the deal to facilitate his trade from Jacksonville earlier this month.
Thomas, who was acquired in exchange for a seventh-round pick in next month’s draft, turned his contract into a two-year deal worth $12.2 million. According to a league source, $7.5 million of it is fully guaranteed.
He will earn $5.5 million in base salary this season, which is fully guaranteed. And in 2018, the seven-year veteran, who turns 29 in June, will earn $6.5 million in base salary, of which $2 million is fully guaranteed. He also has $100,000 workout bonuses in both years.
For comparison sake, the Dolphins gave Jordan Cameron a two-year, $15 million deal in 2015 before restructuring last year, paying him $7.5 million in 2016 and $6 million last season. Cameron retired from the NFL last month because of his concussion history.
The Jaguars gave Thomas a massive five-year, $46 million contract in 2015 to lure him from Denver as a free agent. In that initial deal, which made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends, he was slated to make $24 million in guaranteed money. But his restructured deal means he’ll receive $28.5 million in guaranteed money over a four-year span.
Before redoing his contract, Thomas carried an $8.6 million cap hit for 2017 and was guaranteed $3 million of his $7.1 million salary for 2017, which included a $100,000 workout bonus. He was slated to make $8.6 million in 2018, and $9 million in 2019.
His salary dropped $1.5 million this season, $2.1 million in 2018, and he will no longer receive that $9 million in 2019.
Thomas, who caught 24 touchdown passes in the two years he started in Denver where Dolphins head coach Adam Gase was the offensive coordinator, says he’s healthy, ready to play at “a high level” and be a key part of the Dolphins’ remodeled offense.
“I’m a guy who helps other guys. I want to help make sure we’re all where we’re supposed to be and everybody is in concert,” said Thomas, who had 30 receptions for 281 yards and four touchdowns in the nine games last season. “That’s what this offense is about, understanding the whole scheme. Everybody has to get it done all together, like an orchestra.’’
The Dolphins this week also restructured linebacker Koa Misi’s contract, lowering his salary-cap hit but giving him more guaranteed money. The exact terms of the deal aren’t yet known. Misi, who will have his neck injury reevaluated in May, was scheduled to earn about $4.1 million for the 2017 season.
What remains unclear about Misi, 30, is the status of his neck injury. General manager Chris Grier seemed concerned at the NFL scouting combine last month.
“Koa right now is coming off significant neck surgery so we’ve just got to see where it is,” Grier said. “But right now he’s in our plans. We’ll see. He’s got a checkup again in May so it’ll be probably the first time we’ll really know where he’ll stand in terms of his football career going forward.”
Misi’s agent, Kenny Zuckerman, said he expects Misi’s injury issue to be resolved in May.
“He’s supposed to be cleared in May,” Zuckerman said. “He’s doing well. We see no setback.”
The Dolphins signed inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons this offseason and re-signed linebacker Kiko Alonso, who likely will move to weak side from the middle, on Tuesday. There’s presumably a starting job available on the strong side.
Misi had 22 tackles last season and 78 in 2015 while playing 13 games, all starts. Misi started 11 games in 2014 and ended with 64 tackles.