Three Miami Dolphins players who will far outperform their financial cost during the 2026 season
The Miami Dolphins’ roster leans heavy into cheap contract this season. Who will outperform their cash cost?
The 2026 Miami Dolphins have no shortage of cost-friendly contracts on the books. Some of that is by design. But some of it is also out of necessity.
Which one of those cheaper contracts is going to net good value for Miami? There’s some positions that will make it difficult to say with confidence. And, for the sake of this exercise, we’re currently assuming that LB Jordyn Brooks gets his contract extension. Otherwise he’d be a top candidate as an All-Pro caliber player playing for less than $8 million. Here are three picks for cost-friendly contracts that will age well in 2026, with all three players scheduled for less than $1.5 million in cash this season.
Three Miami Dolphins players who will far outperform their financial cost during the 2026 season
EDGE Joshua Uche
The Dolphins need someone to heat up the quarterback in 2026 and there’s plenty of weight riding on Chop Robinson’s potential breakout. But opposite the former first round draft choice is veteran Joshua Uche, who is playing for just over $1.4 million in 2026. Uche feels like a strong candidate to seize a lot of snaps and his ability to win on the edge has never really been the question. Will he be a well-rounded, three down player? It’s hard to say yes with confidence, as it would have happened already. But this pass rush skill set coming for cheap will likely outperform the cost.
OT Patrick Paul
Paul is playing on the third year of his rookie contract in Miami and is scheduled to earn $1.423 million in cash this year. Paul is on the fast track to becoming one of the better left tackles in football — and if he can replicate his 2025 performance once again this season, he may already be there. Here’s what I can tell you about good and great offensive tackles: they make a heck of a whole lot more than $1.423 million in a season.
SAF Dante Trader Jr.
Speaking of rookie contracts, safety Dante Trader Jr. is going to likely earn a starting job while playing on the second year of his. As a fifth-round draft choice, that puts him in line to earn minimum salary this season. A starting safety playing $1.005 million in compensation is good value in any sense — but Trader Jr. can really kick this up a notch by playing well under head coach Jeff Hafley. I’m optimistic.
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