Kelly: Is Jevon Holland a foundational player for Dolphins? And at what price point | Opinion

Jevon Holland has had a solid start to his NFL career, but the Miami Dolphins’ young, promising safety will be the first to admit he hasn’t accomplished anything major thus far.

No playoff wins.

No Pro Bowl spots earned.

No All-Pro accolades.

“Last year I was having success and I ended up getting hurt,” Holland said, referring to the two MCL knee sprains he sustained in Miami’s 34-13 win against the New York Jets on Nov. 24, a game where Holland pulled down an interception and ran it back 99 yards for a touchdown right before the half.

Holland finished that contest, but missed the next four games as the knee injuries he suffered making an awkward tackle against the Jets healed, and his participation was significantly limited in the two games he did played in - Baltimore and Buffalo - as the season concluded.

“Each year I’m trying to get these accolades and what not,” said Holland, who finished the 2023 season with 74 tackles, one interceptions and three forced fumbles. “This year, I’m just going to have fun. Accolades are going to come if they are going to come. I’m just trying to enjoy myself out there. That’s the bottom line.

“When I look back at it I want to make sure I’m enjoying myself and making the most of the experience,” Holland continued. “I’m being where my feet are.”

That’s easier said than done since the Dolphins’ 2021 second-round pick is entering a contract year, and hopes to receive a multiyear extension before the start of the 2024 regular season.

“If it happens it happens. It would be dope,” Holland said about the prospects of an extension. “I’d love to stay here. I really want to.”

But much like Tua Tagovailoa’s extension talks with the Dolphins, the money needs to be right.

Grier wants to get a deal done

“Jevon is a big piece here, and we’ll spend some time talking with him,” general manager Chris Grier said in April.

Even though the Dolphins have roughly $16 million in cap space, those talks didn’t happen before Miami wrapped the offseason program according to Holland. So it’s logical to believe those discussions will happen before the regular season kicks off.

But that doesn’t guarantee that a deal will get done because it’s challenging to put a price point on a player who has flashed potential, but hasn’t exactly been a dominant NFL safety, an impactful playmaker suchas Reshad Jones, Miami’s last Pro Bowler at the position.

“[We’re] excited for him to just get healthy and have a good year here,” Grier said. “I love him….He’s an important piece and we’ll be talking with him here in the future.”

Holland fell four tackles shy of 100 in the 2022 season.

He has produced five interceptions, four sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered another three in the 45 games he has played the past three seasons.

While those 16 impact plays are a respectable total, they don’t match the productivity of the NFL’s elite safeties such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Antonio Winfield Jr. and Derwin James, who are the three highest-paid safeties in the NFL.

What’s the right price for Holland?

Right under them is Xavier McKinney, who left the New York Giants to join the Green Bay Packers this offseason. McKinney signed a four-year deal worth $67 million, of which $23 million is guaranteed. McKinney will receive $37 million in the first two years of that deal, which puts him at $18.45 million a season.

And the deal becomes even more affordable in the final two years, averaging out to $16.75 million for a player who has put up comparable numbers — one 100-tackle season, nine interceptions, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumbles recovered in the 49 games he has played the past four seasons — to Holland.

The New England Patriots gave Kyle Dugger a four-year, $58 million deal this offseason, and he has contributed nine interceptions, two forced fumbles, recovered two fumbles and contributed 2.5 sacks. Dugger was guaranteed $29.75 million at signing, and received a $18 million signing bonus. If he plays out the entire deal he’ll average $14.5 million a season.

Is Holland worth $14.5 million a season? The Dolphins must decide how they view Holland, and make an offer that reflects that.

Dolphins have price point for veteran starters

This offseason Miami handed out four contracts from $7 million to $9.5 million annual deals to NFL veterans — linebacker Jordyn Brooks, cornerback Kendall Fuller, pass rusher Shaquil Barrett and center Aaron Brewer — the franchise viewed as starters in 2024. So we know what the Dolphins’ baseline price point of a starter is.

Brandon Jones received a three-year, $20 million contract from the Denver Broncos last offseason, and it’s safe to conclude Holland’s a far superior safety based on their body of work in the NFL.

Linebacker Jerome Baker was the last Dolphins defender in Holland’s position, trying to lock up an extension entering the final year of his rookie deal. Baker received a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension in 2021, which included a $12.5 million signing bonus, and $28.4 million in guaranteed money.

The inside linebacker averaged $12.5 million annually before he was released this offseason to create cap space, but that seems to be a safe landing zone for Holland’s price point based on what he has accomplished so far, and this franchise’s history.

But a dominant season in a scheme that caters to safeties, like the one new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is seemingly installing, could push Holland into that McKinney and Dugger range, for sure.

It’ll be interesting to see if Grier will want to get a deal done now, or if he would prefer to wait and see how Holland fits into Miami’s new defense, and performs in this pivotal season.

“In terms of where I am in my career, this is my fourth year of playing ball. I’ve done good things, but I’ve always got places to improve on,” Holland said. “I love the challenge. That’s why I enjoy the game.”