Omar Kelly: Dolphins must determine if veteran leaders are part of franchise's future

Omar Kelly, Miami Herald on Apr 13, 2026

Published in Football

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MIAMI — Allow me to share a perspective about professional athletes that most fans don’t recognize and fail to rationalize.

This is going to be hard to hear, but important to digest.

Players usually have no loyalty to your franchise.

While there are exceptions, this is the norm.

They’ve probably grown fond of the city — especially when it’s some place exotic, like Miami — and maybe even the team that drafted them, or provided their first big contract, or opportunity. But understand that a professional athlete’s loyalty is always to himself, and his family.

An athlete’s main job is to change the lives of those who helped them become pros.

With that said, it should be pointed out that no veteran player, especially the talents who other teams covet, intentionally wants to be part of a rebuild … UNLESS they have skin in the game.

That’s why former Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was gifted to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick, and a contract extension. He's got the skin.

It was a major reason the Dolphins traded receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a first and third-round selection, and swap of fourth round picks. Miami didn’t want to carry Waddle’s bloated salary.

“Whenever you are sitting in this seat you always bite your lip when good players walk out the door, for whatever reason they leave,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said when explaining the Waddle deal at the NFL Owner’s Meetings. “We’re in a position with our roster where we need to get younger and cheaper.”

That last word was the most important one.

For good to elite players the NFL offseason is about securing the bag because the goal is to never play on the final year of your contract. That situation gives a player no protection because they’re taking all the risk from an injury standpoint.

Tailback De’Von Achane, inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, and center Aaron Brewer are all entering the final season of their contract, and therefore seek extensions.

The Dolphins are aware, and have discussed it with each. But no deals are close, sources say.

Buffalo’s James Cook, a tailback that’s comparable to Achane in style and production, received the most recent lucrative extension for a tailback, landing a five-year deal that’s slated to pay him $51.6 million, and featured $30 million in guaranteed money.

Achane likely won’t accept a dollar less, with the goal of becoming the 12th tailback who makes at least $11 million a season.

Brewer is the NFL’s 10th highest paid center based on his salary, which pays him $7 million annually for the past three years.. But the 29-year-old is out of guaranteed money, and that’s the only figure in NFL contracts that truly matter to players.

There are 19 NFL inside linebackers making $10 million or more a season, and eight making at least $13 million a season. Brooks, who led the NFL in tackles last season, intends to enter that salary range on his next deal. He’ll learn how serious Miami is about him being a foundational piece based on the offer made.

Don’t be surprised if there are consequences if a deal isn’t reached before next week’s NFL draft.

No extension, no skin in the game on this rebuild.

No skin, limited investment.

No investment, then mercenary mode kicks in for many pros.

If that’s the recipe we’re cooking then Miami’s circle of trust — Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley — will be in a tough spot heading into the draft, and the 2026 season.

All of Miam’s free agents lose a little of their leverage once next week’s draft concludes.

“Nobody is untouchable in this business,” Sullivan said when discussing trades. “I don’t believe in that because you never know who is on the other side of the phone, and what they are going to offer.”

In Miami’s predraft conversations teams in need of a game changing tailback, a playmaking inside linebacker, and an athletic zone blocking center will likely get serious about trying to acquire Miami’s top veterans, saving them from the Dolphins’ lastest rebuild.

Clearly finances will come into play, which is why Sullivan and Hafley must listen to offers.

It’s clear Miami’s roster is being rebuilt, becoming younger and cheaper, and even though Sullivan claims Achane, Brooks and Brewer are foundational pieces the Dolphins hope to build around, proof of this will come from the contracts offered in the next two weeks.

The Dolphins must decide if they would prefer a draft pick over these proven, but soon to be expensive NFL players.

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