Three wins for the Miami Dolphins in their new contract extension with OL Aaron Brewer
Where should the Miami Dolphins feel best about their “wins” in a negotiation with center Aaron Brewer?
The Miami Dolphins have struck yet another big contract extension.
Against the backdrop of a team mired in dead cap in 2026, Miami is taking advantage of some summer flexibility against the cap to take care of some of their own. Miami landed their first big extension of the offseason with RB De’Von Achane several weeks ago. And now it is center Aaron Brewer’s turn. The three-year, $52.5 million extension offers handsome compensation for the standout center. Brewer’s wins are obvious. But deals get done when everyone wins. Where are the wins for the Miami Dolphins in this extension? Here are three wins for the franchise amid their new deal with Aaron Brewer.
Three wins for the Miami Dolphins in their new contract extension with OL Aaron Brewer
1. Avoiding the Tyler Linderbaum influence
I will not lie. When Tyler Linderbaum signed in Las Vegas for a whopping $27 million dollars per season, my audible response was “uh oh”. Linderbaum shattered the annual average salary at the top of the center market by 50%, raising it from Creed Humphrey’s previous mark of $18 million per year.
That Linderbaum contract ends up not coming in to play with the Brewer deal, as Brewer was secured for half a million less per season than Humphrey secured from the Chiefs. That is, in an of itself, a win for the Miami Dolphins. Because that Linderbaum deal is the outlier of all outliers — and it will stay that way for now.
2.Landing the AAV% of cap 4th among active center contracts
The annual average salary of $17.5 million ranks behind Humphrey and Linderbaum. But when you consider what the annual average salary of the contract is as a percentage of the salary cap, it ranks behind another contract, too. This measure of contracts (annual average as a percentage of the cap, or AAV% of cap) is designed to account for the annual inflation of the salary cap.
Philadelphia’s Cam Jurgens’ four-year, $68 million deal from 2025 averages $17 million per season. But because the salary cap was so much lower in 2025 ($279.2 million versus $301.2M), the Eagles’ $17 million per year commitment represents a larger commitment than Brewer’s $17.5 million per year commitment.
3. Rewarding another player who has done it “the right way” this offseason
The Miami Dolphins’ roster is light on established talent. The veteran players who have survived “the purge” should wear that as a badge of honor. But Brewer becomes the second veteran to wear the “survival” badge to also get a new mark of honor: a new contract.
Under head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Dolphins have set about building up a new culture in South Florida. Paying top talents who go about things the right way offers positive reinforcement for the next generation. And Brewer, has certainly gone about this the right way. He plays at a high level and was in attendance all offseason amid the lingering negotiations.
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