A new NFL study suggests the Miami Dolphins may have signed Aaron Brewer at exactly the right time
The Athletic has released a new study that would seem to suggest Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer is just getting started.
The Miami Dolphins made a massive investment in All-Pro center Aaron Brewer last month. They inked him to a 3-year, $52.5 million contract extension, promptly putting their money where their mouth is after building him up as a cornerstone talent. Indeed, he is now paid like one.
But a new study has unveiled perhaps the most promising evidence yet that the best is yet to come for Brewer. It would be a wonderful development for the re-tooling Dolphins. The Athletic has published a study examining how NFL position groups age, using Approximate Value data courtesy of Pro Football Reference. The findings offer the peak “window” for players at specific positions. The data on the center position in particular may have the stars aligning for Brewer and the Dolphins to have many, many happy years together.
Study suggests the future is bright for Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer
Brewer is entering his age 28/29 season — he’ll be 29 at the end of October. After a few years of pin-balling around in Tennessee, he landed in Miami and was locked into the center position. He has, obviously, been sensational there. And that security at the position, along with The Athletic’s research, creates plenty of hope that the best is yet to come. According to the data reviewed, which includes a 25-year sample size, centers historically start peaking around age 29. And they ride that wave through their mid-30s. In theory, the seven best years of Brewer’s career should be the next seven he plays.
That is a significant development for the Dolphins franchise in more ways than one. If Brewer follows the historical curve, it means we could see his new contract continue to age gracefully. But it also means that the Miami Dolphins, in the early stages of their newest build, may see Brewer firmly in the historical prime of his career by the time the Dolphins are ready to compete with their new core.
There’s no guarantee that this data will correlate with every player’s own path. Brewer still has to stay healthy, continue developing, and perform at the level Miami is paying him for. All while taking on a new offensive play-caller and quarterback in 2026. But The Athletic’s research provides a reason for optimism that the Dolphins may have timed this investment well. The rebuild will take patience. Brewer’s journey required it early, too. Both timelines, Brewer’s and the Dolphins’ build, may now be synced up nicely for when it matters most.
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