The NFL’s latest contract extension should have one of the Dolphins’ top performers seeing dollar signs as he heads toward a pivotal contract year in 2026
Hey…you get what you pay for.
This past year for the Miami Dolphins was a tough one for any player hoping to secure a long-term contract from the team. After several years of aggressive spending on veterans, Miami generally closed up shop on big-money talks and long-term extensions in 2025. Yes, defensive tackle Zach Sieler eventually got a multi-year extension worth north of $20 million per year. But he was the exception in 2025, not the rule.
Given how things shook out with former general manager Chris Grier, it is likely for the best. Whoever is the Dolphins’ next full-time general manager will want to be able to make the critical decisions about Miami’s long-term pillars. They’ll have the chance to do so — but one player who could feasibly be a candidate for an extension this offseason should be seeing dollar signs after the latest contract extension elsewhere in the NFL.
Dolphins center Aaron Brewer should be seeing dollar signs after latest NFL extension
The Denver Broncos have inked a four-year contract extension with center Luke Wattenberg valued at $48 million in compensation. It’s an annual average salary of $12 million in new money for the Broncos’ center — ranking him top-5 in the NFL among players at the position. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer is currently playing on the second year of a three-year, $21 million contract in Miami and will be entering into a contract year in 2026.
Given his caliber of play, he’s an obvious extension candidate for Miami’s new general manager to be proactive in securing.
Brewer has been a sensational addition for Miami. Wattenberg’s new deal is nearly double Brewer’s current value. Denver’s contract with Wattenberg, plus the Chicago Bears’ offseason contract with Drew Dalman, figure to serve as the absolute floor for a potential new deal with Brewer into the future. Dalman’s deal was only three years in length but averaged $14 million per season after leaving Atlanta.
Dolphins fans, brace yourselves accordingly. If you want the offensive line you’ve craved for years, it will come with sparing no expense on the good/great players you have once you get them in the building. Denver, for example, is paying every single member of their starting offensive line money on a second contract.
That’s not to say Miami HAS to follow suit here. The left side of their line is young players on rookie contracts and the right side of the line has been marred by injuries in consecutive years to both tackle Austin Jackson and guard James Daniels (only one season in Miami). But there’s very little question in Brewer’s ability and performance. That means he’s the one Miami should prioritize. And the sooner you get a deal done, the less it will cost you thanks to the NFL’s never-ending inflation of the salary cap.
With Brewer in a contract year in 2026 and having expressed his own interest in finishing his career in Miami, file the Wattenberg contract away in the back of your mind. It likely serves as a potential launch point for a market value for one of Miami’s standout talents.
NFL’s current top-paid centers in
annual average salary
- Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey – $18 million AAV
- Philadelphia Eagles’ Cam Jurgens – $17 million AAV
- Chicago Bears’ Drew Dalman – $14 million AAV
- Tennessee Titans’ Lloyd Cushenberry – $12.5 million AAV
- Denver Broncos’ Luke Wattenberg – $12 million AAV
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