Jakeem Grant will be part of the Miami Dolphins‘ deep and talented wide receiver group in 2021 after agreeing to a contract restructure that is worth up to $3 million this year, a source tells Pro Football Network.
The reworked deal removes the final two years from his existing deal, ensuring Grant becomes a free agent in 2022.
Jakeem Grant, Dolphins agree to restructured deal
That’s a win for all sides. It allows the Dolphins to keep one of the league’s most dynamic returners on their roster for at least another year. And it allows Grant to pursue other opportunities next year that might not be available in Miami.
When the Dolphins drafted Jaylen Waddle sixth overall in April, it led some to presume that Grant’s days in Miami were limited. Their skill sets overlap, and Waddle has been on record saying that he wants to be a returner in the NFL.
However, the Dolphins have been privately adamant that they want Grant to remain. Just hours before the 53-man cut-down deadline, Miami presented a contract offer that would ensure that.
He’s expected to play a role on special teams and offense in 2021
Grant, 28, is both one of the smallest and fastest players in football. He is electric in the open field, as evidenced by his 5 special-teams touchdowns in as many NFL seasons. He received All-Pro votes in 2020 after averaging 11.4 yards per punt return.
But Grant is more than just a specialist, and the Dolphins envision a role for him on offense in 2021.
Targets might be at a premium in an offense that includes Waddle, Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson, and Preston Williams.
Yet, Fuller is suspended Week 1, and all of those players have an injury history. So the Dolphins are loading up at the position to ensure they get through a 17-game schedule with enough weapons for Tua Tagovailoa to thrive.
Grant, a sixth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech, has 89 career catches for 1,008 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns. He has also scored a rushing touchdown.