Jaylen Waddle has shown he is a player worth keeping, and the Miami Dolphins did what was right.
The two camps have reportedly agreed to a contract extension, which will keep the wide receiver with the team until 2028.
The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source, reported that Waddle received a whopping $84.75 million contract extension from the team that drafted him sixth overall in the 2021 draft.
Read more: Packers' Jaire Alexander Sounds off on Being One of the Older Guys and on Team Firing Coaches
"The deal includes $76 million guaranteed and keeps Waddle under contract through the 2028 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract details have not been announced," the report said.
Waddle, 25, has been one of the most productive players in the league since 2021.
As a rookie, he recorded the most catches, with 104, while posting 1,015 yards and six touchdowns.
His sophomore year was just as good when he recorded a career-best 1,356 yards and a league-high 18.1 yards per catch.
He recorded his third straight season with 1,000-yard receiving last year. He did this as second fiddle to Tyreek Hill, the 2023 receiving yards leader.
With this move, general manager Chris Grier fulfilled his promise in February that Waddle would not be going anywhere.
"No, as I said in the middle of the season, I have no thoughts of trading Jaylen Waddle," Grier said.
"We want him here for a long time, and we think he's a big part of our now and our future here. He's a great person on and off the field, and we still think, as good as he is, he still has runway to keep getting better."
Jaylen Waddle contract compared to Hill's
Waddle is now getting paid almost the same amount as Hill, the highest-paid WR in 2022.
The former will have an average annual value of $28.5 million, while the latter is earning $30 million per season since coming to Florida.
The designation will remain - Waddle is WR1b while Hill is WR1a.
However, Hill might create a gap between him and Waddle soon, as he is reportedly seeking a contract extension attuned to the ongoing rise in wide receiver pay.
Last month, AJ Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a three-year extension worth $96 million.
Amon-Ra St. Brown also agreed to a four-year $120 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
How the Waddle deal affects Tua Tagovailoa
Keeping Waddle is just one of many moves Grier makes to keep a potent offensive line.
Signing Waddle first might create a problem for the Dolphins, as they are also looking to extend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The cap ceiling will be off the roofs for them as the Dolphins intend to give Tua the bag.
According to CBS Sports, the Dolphins plan to exceed what the Los Angeles Chargers paid Justin Herbert to be able to keep Tua. That is around a five-year, $262.5 million contract with an AAV of $52.5 million.
Related article: 49ers' George Kittle Reveals He Underwent Surgery for Injury That Plagued Him Last Season
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
