Sports

/

ArcaMax

Omar Kelly: The 10 biggest bargains on the Dolphins' 2025 roster

Omar Kelly, Miami Herald on

Published in Football

MIAMI — Whether it’s a luxury item on sale at a high-end store, a Publix BOGO (buy one, get one free) sale, or a young player locked up for a cheap salary the next couple of seasons, a good deal is a good deal.

Bargain shopping is a universal hobby that crosses every genre, and that includes sports. And this season, based on the youth movement, and Miami’s new fiscally responsible approach the organization took this offseason, the Miami Dolphins have quite a few players who provide plenty of bang for their price tag.

In fact, only 24 players on the Dolphins’ 90-player training camp roster, earn more than $2 million a season.

Here’s a look at the top 10 players on the Dolphins roster who are making $2 million or less this season when bonuses and base salaries are tabulated:

— Pass rusher Chop Robinson - $1,475,738

Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, had a productive rookie season, contributing 26 tackles and six sacks in 17 games he played last season. Problem is, Robinson struggled against the run when it came to setting the edge, and that hole in his game limited him to just one start. This training camp he needs to show the progress he’s made, which will allow him to not have his playing time monopolized by Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, two established pass rushers who are coming back from serious injuries this season.

— Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. - $1,337,500

The Dolphins signed this 55-game starter to a one-year deal, which includes a $167,500 signing bonus, with the expectation that he’ll serve as hybrid inside and outside linebacker, and special teams contributor. And Gay’s strong spring and summer practices hint that he is a borderline starter for Miami, someone who can fill a role similar to the one Andrew Van Ginkel played in his Dolphins days. Throughout his NFL career Gay has developed a reputation as a playmaker, recorded 261 tackles, seven sacks, pulled down four interceptions and recovered six fumbles.

— Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips - $1,298,304

Phillips, a 2025 fifth-round pick, is the only rookie to crack this list because the former Maryland standout is projected to serve as a second-team defensive lineman, backing up Zach Sieler and fellow rookie Kenneth Grant. His 2025 salary includes a $458,304 signing bonus, and locks him up at a cheap price for the next four seasons.

— Tailback De’Von Achane - $1,244,314

Achane, a 2023 third-round pick, has been one of Miami’s top offensive producers the past two seasons, and should serve as Miami’s bell cow back for 2025 if he can stay healthy, and remains productive (1,707 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns the past two seasons). A productive season will likely lead to Achane asking for an extension that features a substantial rise next offseason considering he’s slotted to make $1.5 million before playing-time escalators are factored in during the 2026 season.

— Receiver Dee Eskridge - $1,270,000

 

Eskridge, who began his NFL career as a 2021 second-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks, fell into some hard time the past two seasons because of an off-field incident, and a coaching change in Seattle. He settled in with Miami last season and impressed coaches and players with strong practices before getting hurt, and the hope is that the speedy 5-foot-9, 190 pound receiver/returner will pick up where he left off in 2024.

— Offensive tackle Patrick Paul - $1,109,168

The Dolphins’ 2024 second-round pick is expected to become Terron Armstead’s successor as Miami’s starting left tackle now that Armstead has retired. It’s a role Paul spent all of his rookie season preparing for, and he actually played 337 offensive snaps in three games last season. But his performance then was fairly inconsistent. The Dolphins hope the work Paul’s put in this offseason will allow his play to stabilize.

— Cornerback Kendall Sheffield - $1,170,000

Sheffield, a former Ohio State standout who is beginning his fifth season in the NFL with his seventh team, was one of the most recent Dolphins players to be signed. He joined the team after a solid performance in rookie camp, and has seemingly leapfrogged quite a few young players on the depth chart because of his studious approach to the game during the offseason program. During training camp we’ll learn if his solid practices will make him a NFL starter for the second time in his career considering the former fourth-round pick began his NFL career as a 20-game starter for the Atlanta Falcons.

— Tight end Julian Hill - $1,030,000

Hill, an undrafted player who has started 15 games the past two seasons, is Miami’s top in-line tight end, which means he’s the blocking specialist. And Miami’s coaches claim he’s pound-for-pound the strongest and toughest Dolphins player, so don’t expect him to lose any playing time this year if he’s healthy. This is the final year of his rookie deal and next year he becomes a restricted free agent.

— Receiver Malik Washington - $960,000

Washington, a 2024 sixth-round pick, became the Dolphins top return specialist and the slot receiver midway through his rookie season because of the knee injury Braxton Berrios suffered. He finished last season with 26 receptions for 223 yards and scored one touchdown last season in that role, which he’ll compete with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Eskridge to hold onto.

— Cornerback Storm Duck - $960,000

This second-year cornerback, who joined the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie, started three of the 14 games he played in (352 defensive snaps), and appears to be in the driver’s seat to become one of the starters on the boundary based on his steady practices and film study habits. The Dolphins have him locked up contractually for at least two more seasons because next year he’ll get an exclusive rights tender if they deem he’s worth.

____


©2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus