NFL RUMORS: The Next Defensive Stud Dolphins Could Lose In Free Agency As Dolphin’s Mike McDaniel Credits Veteran Leaders For MNF Upset Over RAMS and Sends a Strong Message After Benching Raheem Mostert
Matt Bowen of ESPN highlights the versatile skill set that makes Jevon Holland so valuable to pro coaches, noting that he has the multidimensional abilities needed for a safety. Holland excels whether playing deep, covering the slot, or stepping up as a box defender. While his recent season may not have featured flashy interceptions, Holland’s overall career stats — including five picks, 13 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and five sacks — demonstrate his consistent contribution over four seasons with the Dolphins.
However, locking in Holland for the long term presents significant challenges. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN discusses the difficulty of re-signing him, drawing a comparison to Christian Wilkins, another Dolphins player who departed due to salary cap issues. Fowler emphasizes, “Holland will not be easy to re-sign. He’s regarded as one of the top-five safeties in the league, with a versatility that teams highly value.” This reflects the wider trend in the NFL, where elite defensive players demand large contracts that can strain their team’s salary cap management.
Dolphins likely to be without their star Safety in 2025
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The Dolphins have historically focused on securing high-profile contract extensions, with key players like Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill receiving new deals, and they even began discussions with Jevon Holland last summer. However, no agreement was reached, which could suggest issues with the salary cap or strategic decisions about how to allocate resources.
Jeremy Fowler notes that Holland’s next contract is expected to fall somewhere between Xavier McKinney’s four-year, $68 million deal with Green Bay and Antoine Winfield Jr.’s four-year, $84 million extension with Tampa Bay. This projected value places Holland among the league’s top safeties, meaning the Dolphins will face a decision: either make a significant financial commitment to keep him or risk losing him to a more lucrative offer from another team.
As the Dolphins consider their options, the stakes for their defense are clear. Losing Holland would deal a blow to the secondary’s versatility and overall effectiveness, a major concern for any team with playoff aspirations. Miami’s upcoming decisions will shed light on their broader strategic priorities and their willingness to invest in maintaining a strong defensive foundation.
