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Former Dolphins first-round pick is expected to receive a $15 million contract
The Miami Dolphins’ 2025 season did not go as expected. After missing the playoffs in 2024, owner Stephen Ross decided to retain general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel as he believed they were the right men to lead the Dolphins forward. As it turns out, that belief did not last long. After a 1-6 start to the season, the team dismissed Chris Grier, and despite winning six of its last nine games, the team also parted ways with Mike McDaniel after the season.
When the team fired Chris Grier, they knew the season was mostly lost. At 2-7, the Dolphins began making moves looking toward the future instead of the rest of the regular season. Coming into the season, the Dolphins were projected to have a strong pass rush as they were getting back a healthy Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to pair alongside Chop Robinson, who had a strong finish to his rookie season, and they added former Pro Bowl player Matt Judon during training camp. Miami’s fierce pass rush never materialized and at the deadline, the Dolphins traded away Phillips in exchange for a third-round pick.
Former Miami Dolphins Player Projected to Sign $ 15 Million Contract
Perhaps the biggest reason the Dolphins traded away Phillips is that he was set to be a free agent after the season. While they could have received a compensatory pick, they opted to take the Eagles’ third-round draft pick instead. Now, Phillips is set to be a free agent and he could theoretically come back to the Dolphins. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 14 available free agent and projected him to sign a one-year, $15 million contract.
PFF wrote, “Injuries have plagued Phillips‘ career, but he looked closer to his best after arriving in Philadelphia ahead of the trade deadline. From Week 10 on, he earned a 70.2 PFF pass-rush grade and generated 44 total pressures.” Dolphins fans are well aware of Phillips’ ability to create pressure; however, his lack of sack production is unfortunately what many remember the former Dolphins’ first-round pick for.
This season with the Dolphins, Phillips had three sacks in nine games, but his biggest play was a sack he failed to make. With the Dolphins having the lead against the Chargers and less than one minute remaining in the game, Phillips had quarterback Justin Herbert in his grasp, but failed to bring him down. Herbert escaped and found wide receiver Ladd McConkey for a long completion, which set them up to hit the game-winning field goal. Phillips would be traded three games later.
Jaelan Phillips’ Miami Career
It is hard to call Phillips a bust with the Dolphins. Despite some frustrations among the fan base, Phillips was a productive player when he was on the field. He missed most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries, but he still managed to rack up 26 sacks as a member of the Dolphins.
In particular, his 2023 seems like a missed opportunity. Phillips seemed to be on the verge of a breakout Pro Bowl-caliber type season. In his final five games of the season, Phillips totaled six sacks and seven tackles for loss; however, he suffered a torn Achilles in a win over the Jets. He returned the following season, but suffered a torn ACL in a collision with fellow Dolphins player Jordan Poyer.
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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