An early free agency move gives the Dolphins a reminder of what’s waiting in their bid to extend one of their own this offseason
A good start to the offseason for any lineman needing a new deal.
The Miami Dolphins are reportedly aiming to lock in a few members of their roster long-term before the start of the 2026 season. Among them? Center Aaron Brewer.
Brewer was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2025 for his play on the field and is currently in the prime of his career, making him an obvious extension candidate as he gets ready to play this upcoming season in the final year of his current contract. If Brewer successfully gets a contract done with the Dolphins this offseason, the price point is going to be *handsome*. The interior offensive line market is on the rise and free agent Tyler Linderbaum is expected to blow the roof off the top of the center market.
But we’ve collected our first 2026 contract for a center and it serves as a valuable data point in the search for the right cost for Brewer’s market on a potential extension in Miami.
The first center contract of 2026 reminds us just how much Aaron Brewer is going to command
Tyler Biadasz was a cap casualty in Washington earlier this offseason and, due to being a street free agent, he was eligible to sign a new deal at any point. He got a jump on the free agent market by signing a reported 3-year, $30 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he’ll serve as former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s starting center.
Biadasz has been a durable player in the NFL, starting 80 games since the start of the 2021 season. He was named to the Pro Bowl in Dallas for his efforts in the 2022 season.
Given that $10 million annually is the threshold for a good starting center in the NFL, it’s a healthy reminder to calibrate your expectations on what a great starter at the position is worth. We’ll find that out next week when Tyler Linderbaum agrees to terms with a team — but he’s reportedly seeking $25 million per season on his new deal in free agency.
Brewer likely won’t command that much and if that’s where the asking price is, Miami will likely allow the 2026 season to play out without a new deal.
Brewer’s profile as a player and the quality of play the last two seasons certainly warrants a number closer to whatever Linderbaum will get versus what Biadasz just got. So don’t expect the Brewer extension to be cheap. He’s currently owed $7 million in cash compensation this season — well below the mark Biadasz just cashed in with the Chargers. Every deal that signs north of $10 million is good news for Brewer. And one’s already in the bag before free agency even officially opens across the league.
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