The Dolphins made Zach Sieler one of the NFL’s richest DTs — but where the deal actually ranks depends on how deep you dig
Zach Sieler’s three-year extension by the numbers.
The Miami Dolphins, after months of negotiations behind the scenes, have struck a deal with defensive tackle Zach Sieler. Sieler and the Dolphins agreed to terms on a three-year extension worth a maximum value of $67.75 million — he’ll now be under contract with the Dolphins through the end of the 2029 season. It’s a major win for one of the league’s most overlooked stars, but also a win for the Dolphins after some wondered if Miami was going to play ball on a contract extension at all.
Sieler is exactly the kind of player (and man) deserving of the pay raise despite entering into the 2025 season with two years remaining on his prior contract. The fact that he has this moment should be celebrated — but what do we know about the deal and how it ranks versus his peers?
Zach Sieler’s new contract rankings by the numbers
Here’s what we currently know about Sieler’s contract extension with Miami. It’s three new years of play for a maximum value of $67.75 million. The fact that ESPN’s Adam Schefter used the phrase “up to” when describing the value of the contract should already be setting off some alarm bells that incentive money may push the raw annual average of this deal even lower.
But for now, we’ll use the reported number baseline, as it clocks out as a $22.58 million per year average across three seasons. The contract also holds $44 million in guarantees, although it is unclear if that is guaranteed at signing or practical guarantees that finalize at a later date. The fact that it was not reported as ‘”guaranteed at signing” should also be a clue that not all of the guarantees of this contract are fully locked in from the moment Sieler puts pen to paper.
Sieler’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, disclosed last night during a guest spot with Josh Moser that the two-year cash flow for Sieler on this new contract is $34 million. That’s more than twice what Sieler was originally scheduled to make on the last two years of his preexisting contract.
Sieler’s annual average salary of $22.58 million per year on the three new years of his deal rank 10th among NFL defensive tackles.
Sieler’s annual average could dip below additional names depending how much of the reported maximum value of his contract is incentivized money. Washington’s DaRon Payne and New York’s Dexter Lawrence both sit at $22.5 million per year on average, both could leap Sieler when the final terms are announced. Seattle’s Leonard Williams is the next in line with $21.5 million — so Sieler has company closely huddled around his mark from an annual average standpoint.
Sieler’s reported guarantees are $44 million, although we have reason to believe that not all of that is fully guaranteed at signing. If it were, it would rank 9th among NFL defensive tackles.
Denver’s Zach Allen is a perfect embodiment of the nature of this reporting. Allen’s deal was reported to have $69.5 million guaranteed. In reality, he got $44.25 million guaranteed at signing. Sieler’s total reported guarantees would sit just behind that and just in front of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner’s $43.25 million in total guaranteed at signing for 10th place in the NFL among defensive tackles.
We can use some deductive reasoning from Rosenhaus’ statement to assume Sieler likely gets $34 million guaranteed at signing — that is his two-year cash flow on this new extension for 2025 and 2026. A $34 million fully-guaranteed at signing figure would rank Sieler 13th among NFL defensive tackles, clocking in behind Cleveland’s Mason Graham (rookie contract, $40.87 million fully guaranteed) and Dallas’ Osa Odighizuwa ($39 million).
Sieler’s maximum value is $67.75 million, which ranks 15th amongst all NFL defensive tackle contracts, regardless of length.
The things most working against Sieler in this case are the fact that he had two years remaining on his contract already and his age. Sieler is set to turn 30 years old in September. As such, the Dolphins went short on years, which cut down the total value of his contract as a result. If you included the financial commitments already on the books by Miami, it’s an additional $15.95 million.
Sieler’s new deal stacks on top of those preexisting years and dollars, meaning his total contractual commitment to Miami is a five-year, $83.7 million contract. The total maximum value of that contract ranks 12th in the NFL among defensive tackles.
Sieler’s two-year cash flow, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus, is $34 million. That mark ranks 14th in the NFL amongst all defensive tackles for the 2025/2026 seasons.
Kansas City’s Chris Jones leads the way with $60.2 million in scheduled cash over the next two seasons. New England’s Milton Williams and Baltimore’s Nnamdi Madubuike are the only two scheduled to collect between $50-60 million. Sieler’s $34 million mark of two-year cash flow sandwiches between Dallas’ Osa Odighizuwa ($39 million) and Minnesota’s Jonathan Allen ($33.155 million).
Miami Dolphins News
Dolphins hand out their biggest contract of the 2025 offseason — and still manage to land one of the NFL’s best values at defensive tackle
Finally! Zach Sieler got paid.
