Aaron

Brewer

Achane, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Tyrel Dodson and C Aaron Brewer are all entering contract years. Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan previously referred to Achane, Brooks and Brewer as the team’s “three pillars,” yet today Kelly quotes him as saying, “nobody is untouchable in this business.” Kelly believes that Achane will be aiming to beat the four-year, $48 million contract extension that Bills RB James Cook signed in August 2025. Kelly also notes that the team will offer contracts sometime in the next two weeks, but that the Dolphins believe that other teams “will likely get serious about trying to acquire Miami’s top veterans.” Achane skipped the team’s April 7 voluntary workout in what head coach Jeff Hafley called “part of the business,” it wouldn’t be surprising if more business decisions happen in the future.

The other two that Sullivan named were LB Jordyn Brooks and OG Aaron Brewer. Sullivan said that he hopes to secure extensions for all three players in the future, and called Achane a “priority” deal he hopes to get done. This should lay to rest any trade talk surrounding Achane, who was rumored to be available despite the team denying any interest in dealing him. The Dolphins are in a complete rebuild mode after taking on more than $170 million in dead cap this season to part ways with key players from the previous staff. Achane, who totaled 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns last season, will be a key player in Bobby Slowk’s offense next season, and at only 24 years old, will be well worth the extension he has coming his way as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

Achane, along with C Aaron Brewer and LB Jordyn Brooks are “core players” in Miami’s view along with the already-extended Jaylen Waddle. Achane has seen some trade buzz this offseason, but there’s not really a compelling reason for Miami to move off him without a big haul considering he’s just 24 years old.

Brewer has gotten All-Pro support this year with a career-high 85.9 PFF grade, so his potential return to the lineup after missing Week 17 would bode well for (apparently) Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon. Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), LB Chop Robinson (concussion), K Jason Sanders (right hip) and OL Austin Jackson (back) are all also questionable for Week 18.

Brewer is Dolphins’ starting center and entered Sunday questionable with a neck injury. He is officially out for Week 17 against the Bucs. Tagovailoa will be the team’s emergency third quarterback again, while Fitzpatrick was ruled out with a calf injury on Friday and Westbrook-Ikhine is a notable healthy scratch.

Brewer was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday but will practice in some capacity on Friday, per McDaniel. The veteran lineman has played through injuries for most of the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he did end up suiting up again this week. McDaniel said whether or not Brewer plays will depend on how the next two days go. He was officially listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday..

We’ve crossed the Terron Armstead threshold with three injury designations, good work by Brewer. The knee is the newest injury he’s dealing with, but Brewer is expected to play after being limited in a few sessions this week. The center has taken a major step forward this year with a 80.2 PFF grade, the highest in his career.

The former Titans center started 34 straight games over the previous two seasons and has graded out as one of the better run-blocking centers in the league during that time. He remains a relative liability in pass protection, something the Dolphins can potentially overcome through their layered and dynamic passing scheme. Brewer should immediately step into the starting center role for the Dolphins.

Brewer was given a second-round tender after starting all 17 games at multiple spots on the interior line. The $4 million salary is a high price for Brewer, a first-time starter last year. Tennessee can extend Brewer to lower his cap hit or let him play out 2023 as a prove-it year. Undrafted in 2020, Brewer will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

The second-round tender is worth $4.304 million this offseason. It’s not surprising after 25-year-old Brewer was a 17-game starter in 2022, spending most of his time at left guard but also some along the pivot. The Titans probably could have gotten away with the original-round level tender ($2.6 million) but have plenty of cap space and didn’t want to risk someone else signing Brewer to an offer sheet. He will undoubtedly remain an interior starter for this rebuilding team in 2023.