Reshad Jones Contract: Latest News, Rumors on Negotiations with Dolphins

Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones skipped the team's voluntary workouts, but he remains without a new contract as the Dolphins prepare for the regular season.

Continue for updates.

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Jones Comments on Return to Dolphins

Wednesday, June 15

Jones reported to the Dolphins' minicamp on Wednesday, ending his holdout. He commented on his decision, courtesy of the Palm Beach Post's Andrew Abramson and the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley:

Abramson previously reported, "Jones would’ve been fined $76,000 if he missed the entire minicamp. Skipping Tuesday’s practice cost him more than $25,000."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported on Monday that Jones' holdout was "expected to continue through minicamp."

The Sun Sentinel's Omar Kelly reported on June 2 that the 2015 Pro Bowler may sit out the 2016 season unless he and the Dolphins agree to a new contract.

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Gase Comments on Jones' Holdout

Wednesday, June 15

"Anything we do with any of that stuff is in house. I'd never talk about that," Dolphins head coach Adam Gase responded when asked if Jones would be fined for his holdout, per Kelly.

“When you’re an NFL player, part of your job is to learn NFL playbooks,” Gase said on Tuesday before Jones returned to the Dolphins, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. He continued:

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So when a guy isn’t here—whether it’s Phase I, Phase II, OTAs or minicamp—and they haven’t been exposed, Cover 3 is still Cover 3. Maybe there’s a different term for it. Guys like that that have experience, they understand defense. As far as him being able to learn the playbook, that would be zero concern to me.

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Jones Reportedly Looking to Earn $10 Million per Year with Next Deal

Saturday, June 4

When he signed his last deal—which was worth $29.28 million over four years—with the Dolphins in 2013, Jones was earning essentially the going rate for an above-average NFL safety. In the years since, though, the top safeties have been earning between $8 million and $10 million a year.

Below are the 10 highest-paid safeties based on their average salary, per Over The Cap:

Rank	Player	Average Salary
1	Eric Berry, KC	$10,806,000
2	Earl Thomas, SEA	$10,000,000
3	Devin McCourty, NE	$9,500,000
T4	Mark Barron, LA	$9,000,000
T4	Jairus Byrd, NO	$9,000,000
6	Malcolm Jenkins, PHI	$8,750,000
7	Tashaun Gipson, JAX	$7,200,000
8	Reshad Jones, MIA	$7,003,000
9	Kam Chancellor, SEA	$7,000,502
10	Rodney McLeod, PHI	$7,000,000

According to Over The Cap, Jones is set to earn roughly $7.2 million in base salary next year and then a little under $7.1 million in 2017.

Jones is coming off the best season of his career. The 28-year-old recorded 135 combined tackles and intercepted five passes in 2015, and Pro Football Focus graded him the 13th-best safety (83.3).

Jones' earning value is likely never going to be any higher. Kelly also alluded to how important it is to get as much money up front as possible in the NFL:

Abramson previously questioned, however, whether Jones would truly hold out:

The Dolphins play the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in their first two games and then have a tricky matchup on the road with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Each of those teams is likely to test Miami's secondary in a big way.

With the Dolphins integrating one new safety into the defense (Isa Abdul-Quddus) in addition to a new starting cornerback (Byron Maxwell), Jones' presence on the field in Week 1 will be vital for Miami.