Dolphins Passing Game Will Be Most Expensive In The NFL Soon

If there were any questions about where the Miami Dolphins believe their priorities lie, then look no further than the huge contract extension they agreed to on Thursday with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Because Miami's priorities lie in passing the football, folks.

Waddle, about to begin his fourth NFL season, agreed to a three-year extension that is worth $84.75 million. 

The Dolphins are confident – if not certain – what they've seen from the former first round pick his first three years, in which he's delivered back-to-back-back 1,000-yard seasons, will continue.

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle celebrates after scoring a TD vs. the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Waddle Deal Not Backloaded

That's the reason the contract includes $76 million in guaranteed money.

There is a business term for this type of deal: Cha-Ching!

The interesting thing here is that, unlike the contract signed by teammate Tyreek Hill with the Dolphins, Waddle's deal isn't severely backloaded.

Hill, by contrast, has a deal that pays $45 million in the final year, which is 2026. This brings Hill's deal up to its $30 million per year plateau.

Waddle's deal averages $28.25 million per year but does not include a balloon-like salary payment in its final year of 2028.

Waddle is scheduled to earn $23.4 million in 2024 and then get a modest raise in base salary to $25.8 million in 2028, per a source.

Waddle becomes the NFL's fourth-highest paid wide receiver on an annual average basis. Hill is the NFL's third-highest paid wide receiver per annual average basis.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins scrambles out of the pocket during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Dolphins Committed To Passing Game

The two are thus the highest-paid starting receiver duo in the NFL.

Philadelphia's A.J. Brown ($32 million per season) and DeVonta Smith ($25 million per season) were previously the NFL's highest-paid receiver duo.

So, yes, the Dolphins value the passing game. And the players that make it fly.

And, as everyone understands, Miami is not done.

The Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continue work on a contract extension that will make their starter one of the highest paid players at his position.

If Tagovailoa matches or surpasses the $51 million per season contract Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts got last season, then the Dolphins will boast the highest paid starting QB and WR combination in the NFL.

That says a lot about where Miami believes it must pour resources to win games.

In the passing game, of course.