NFL: Miami Dolphins Lock Up Promising Wide Receiver Until 2023

The Miami Dolphins want to make sure that they lock on to players who hold key roles for the team moving forward. And one of them is wide receiver, Jakeem Grant. The 26-year-old recently came to terms with the Dolphins and will now remain in Miami until 2023.

Grant was drafted by the Dolphins during the 2016 NFL Draft and became one of the special aces Miami had the past three seasons. He logged 59 punts and 58 kick returns and recorded three returns TDs before getting a contract extension. He was set to earn $720,000 in 2019 but is now expected to earn more than that.

One of several promising players from the 2016 NFL Draft, Grant saw his role increase in passing the past years. For the last two years, he 34 receptions for 471 yards and four scores. This is despite him missing the last six games of the 2018 season following a calf injury. He underwent surgery and is now back in harness, the Miami Herald reported.

Grant is dealing with a new minor injury but that did not stop the Dolphins from locking him up. He did miss the first two preseason games but has already joined practices. The new contract makes the 26-year-old the second player from the 2016 NFL Draft Class getting a new lease.

Previously, it was cornerback Xavier Howard agreeing to a five-year extension worth $75.3 million. There is no official word on how much the wide receiver will be getting financially although Ian Rapoport of NFL media claims that Grant will be getting $24 million which is roughly $6 million annually.

Though his numbers are not off the charts, Grant made some significant milestones last season. That included leading the NFL in kickoff return yards with 535 and finishing second in total kick return yards. Aside from that, he became the first player in Dolphins history with a punt return and a kickoff return for a touchdown in the same season, Miamidolphins.com reported.

A third player who is expected to be handed a contract extension as well is Laremy Tunsil. That could happen next year since the Dolphins picked up the team option on the 25-year-old left tackle. He is set to earn $10 million in 2020 and due to make more once he gets a new deal sometime next NFL season.