Getty Two members of the Miami Dolphins, including one recent signing, made an NFL writer's "all-overpaid" team.
The Miami Dolphins are all-in this season with the clock ticking on a championship window that includes Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey lining up on opposite sides of the football.
But did they spend their money wisely ahead of such a make-or-break campaign? Sporting News writer Vinnie Iyer named two Dolphins players to his NFL “all-overpaid” team on June 12 — meaning he considers said players to be the most overpaid athletes at their position.
The first was linebacker Jordyn Brooks, a key 2024 signing ($8.75 million per year) that was brought in to fill a void in the heart of new coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense.
Iyer argued that “the one-time [Seattle] Seahawks first-round tackling machine has faded hard of late and is a lateral move with Jerome Baker going to Seattle to join Tyrel Dodson.”
He’s not wrong, considering Brooks’ missed tackle rate spiked up to 16.5% last year according to Pro Football Focus. With his solo tackle numbers dropping from 100-plus the previous two seasons to 62 in a similar number of games.
Brooks is just 26 years old, however, and it’s possible that he rebounds after one rough campaign with the Seahawks.
The problem is the former first rounder doesn’t do much else at a really high level. He can rush the passer and chase down ball carriers, but he’s been a liability in coverage throughout his career and PFF has rarely given him a run defense grade over 70.0.
In 2023, that area plummeted as well, with run defense marks dropping to 49.3.
Per PFF, Brooks allowed an average of 3.9 yards on run plays before making a tackle last season — which isn’t bad for a linebacker — but his stop percentage was only 6.7%. A 17.1% missed tackle rate on rushing downs seemed to compound that weakness.
Dolphins Punter Jake Bailey Also Viewed as ‘Overpaid’
The second Dolphins representative on Iyer’s “overpaid” roster was punter Jake Bailey — who first joined Miami from the division rival New England Patriots in 2023.
Bailey reupped with the Dolphins in early March, inking a two-year deal worth $2.1 million per year. Apparently, Iyer was not a fan of that decision by general manager Chris Grier either.
“The former Patriot averaged only 45.7 yards per boot last season and dropped only 20 inside the 20,” he reasoned. Adding that “both [statistics ranked] near the bottom of the league.”
Bailey was a former fifth-round selection in 2019 — which is considered quite high for the punter position. The fact that he only lasted four years in New England is disappointing based on his draft stock.
Having said that, Bailey’s numbers were actually better over his first three NFL seasons. Including a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2020.
He achieved an “inside the 20 percentage” of 45.9% during his time with the Patriots, but only landed punts inside the 20-yard line at a rate of 37.7% in Miami. On the flip side, Bailey’s net yard average with the Dolphins (40.7) has been on par with his net yard average in New England (40.9).
Similar to Brooks, Grier and Miami are likely betting on a bounce back for their 27-year-old punter in 2024.
Ex-Dolphins Draft Pick & Current Patriots Starter Labeled as Overpaid
There was one former Dolphins player that made Iyer’s list as well, 2017 fifth rounder Davon Godchaux.
Ironically, Godchaux is now with the Pats, opposite of Bailey. He first signed with them in 2021 before earning an extension the following offseason.
Over the Cap relays Godchaux’s current contract as a two-year, $20.8 million deal that included $17.85 million guaranteed. The interior defensive lineman is paid $10.4 million per year on this extension.
Iyer criticized Godchaux for “limited production” in New England. During his three years with the Patriots, the nose tackle has only recorded 2.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss.