Miami Dolphins to pick up fifth-year options on Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips

MIAMI GARDENS — Receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips won’t be leaving the Dolphins after the 2024 season.

General manager Chris Grier said Tuesday that the team plans to pick up the fifth-year option on both players, which not only assures they’ll be Dolphins in 2025, barring anything unforeseen, but it also buys the organization time to work out long-term extensions for them.

The Dolphins also have no intention on letting safety Jevon Holland walk, but his case isn’t as clear-cut. Holland was drafted in the second round in 2021, whereas Phillips and Waddle were first-rounders. Clubs have fifth-year options on only first-round picks.

Teams have until May 2 to declare whether they will pick up fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks.

Asked about Waddle, taken sixth overall, and Phillips, taken 18th, Grier said, “There’s no reason for me to sit here and lie to you guys," then confirmed the team plans to pick up the options.

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Holland was selected 36th overall out of Oregon and like Waddle and Phillips has become part of the Dolphins’ nucleus.

“That is an important piece and we'll be talking with him here in the future,” Grier said.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins to pick up fifth-year options on Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips