Many people might question why the Miami Dolphins paid Jakeem Grant but the new deal keeps a versatile weapon in South Beach for their ongoing rebuild.
The Miami Dolphins hope they landed their quarterback for the future this offseason when they traded a second-round pick for Josh Rosen. Now, they’re hoping that Rosen can grow with wide receiver Jakeem Grant.
On Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Dolphins and Grant agreed to a four-year extension. The deal keeps Grant, who would’ve been a restricted free agent after this season, in Miami through the end of the 2023 season.
Grant’s deal is a bit richer than some might’ve expected, as well. The new extension will pay the wide receiver and return-man up to $24 million over the course of the four-year deal, also per Rapoport:
The #Dolphins are giving WR Jakeem Grant a 4-year extension worth up to $24M, source said. Grant, who gets gets $6M per year, has 34 career catches for 471 yards in 3 years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 21, 2019
Last season, Grant posted career highs on the offensive side of the football. The 2016 sixth-round pick hauled in 21 of his 34 targets for 268 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. While not negligible, that’s hardly production worthy of a deal that pays him $6 million per year.
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Where Grant has been a boom for the Dolphins in his three years with Miami has been in the return game. The Texas Tech product averaged 16.1 yards per punt return last season and 29.7 yards per kick return as well, returning one of each for a touchdown in those 10 games in which he played.
The investment that the Dolphins are making in Grant clearly secures a critical spot on special teams moving forward. For a largely young team that’s going to be rebuilding for the next few seasons, that’s a smart decision for them. It’s even smarter when you consider the upside that Grant brings to the offense.
Miami’s diminutive weapon has truly progressed as a pass-catcher over his three seasons in the NFL. His route-running and explosive-play ability out of the slot are great assets to any offense. Furthermore, his presence as a security blanket out of the slot is something that will help Rosen — whenever he takes over — progress and feel comfortable as a passer.
So while it might seem like an odd contract to hand out, the reasoning is clear. It’s still up to Grant to still keep taking steps forward in his game, particularly in regards to the offense. However, he’s already shown signs of that to this point, meaning he can be a critical part of the Dolphins’ attempt to get the franchise back on track.