Phinsider Question Of The Day: Jaelan Phillips Edition

Miami Dolphins linebacker and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is set to begin his fifth NFL season, playing on his fifth-year option, which is fully guaranteed. Phillips is slated to earn $13,251,000 this upcoming season after making $14,018,206 (an average of $3,504,551.50 per season) combined in his first four seasons. As Jaelan enters his fifth and final year of his initial contract, the Dolphins will now face a decision on his long-term future with the team.

The Dolphins can either extend him before the 2025 season, which would allow them to lower his 2025 cap hit, wait to extend him during the season, or see how he performs throughout the entire season, possibly risking losing him in free agency if a deal is not reached beforehand. The other options are to tag him after the season, trade him during the season before the trade deadline, or let him walk and sign with another team, hoping to recoup a compensatory pick in the 2027 draft.

Considering his extensive history of injuries, the Dolphins’ decision regarding Phillips’ long-term future will be complicated by his ability—or lack thereof—to stay on the field. Even before joining the league, he had injury concerns dating back to college. Jaelan played for the UCLA Bruins for two seasons, but his sophomore season ended prematurely after just four games due to a concussion. He also suffered an accident later when he was hit by a car while riding a moped. Phillips medically retired from football in December of that same year.

After enrolling at LA City College to study music production, Phillips transferred to the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music with the intent to eventually play for the Hurricanes. Due to the then-NCAA transfer rules, he sat out what would have been his junior season, but he started for the U in 2020. Jaelan finished that season with 45 tackles, eight sacks, and an interception. His strong season earned him several honors, including 2nd team All-American and All-ACC. Phillips then chose to forgo another season at Miami and declared for the NFL draft before being drafted in the first round by our Miami Dolphins.

Phillips started all 17 games in his first two seasons with Miami but played only eight in his third and four in his fourth seasons. Both of his last two seasons were cut short by injuries. Since joining the league, Phillips has dealt with several injuries, including a back strain and an abdominal sprain in September 2023, a torn Achilles in November 2023, and a torn ACL in October 2024. In the 46 games he started, Phillips has been solid to outstanding, recording 152 tackles (90 solo), 23 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and seven passes defended throughout those games.

So now the obvious Phinsider Question Of The Day is: What would you like to see the Dolphins do with Phillips going forward? Do they extend before or during the season, attempt to trade him if he is healthy mid-season, wait and see how he holds up this season, and then try to re-sign him or tag him, let him walk if he is injured again, or just let him walk no matter how his upcoming season goes?

Please give us your thoughts and answers in the comment section below-