Dolphins Extend Kiko Alonso

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins have signed linebacker Kiko Alonso to a new four year, $28.8 million contract, a report that has been confirmed by multiple others. Per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post the new contract will have about $18.5 million in guaranteed salary, though I would imagine that the contract has less guaranteed at signing than that figure. The Dolphins and Alonso had reportedly been working on an extension prior to the start of free agency but were unable to get a deal done which led to the Dolphins using a first round restricted tender to maintain their rights to him. 

Considering the sluggish nature of the linebacker market this would seem to be a pretty good contract for Alonso who could have been forced to play on a one year, $3.91 million contract, which is a big risk for a player who has missed 22 games in the last three years. Considering the timing of this contract I will value this as a four year contract, but all things considered one could make a strong argument to value this at $8.3 million a season which is a very solid number. My guess is the Donta Hightower deal being finalized under $9 million a year made it easier to hammer out an agreement so early in the RFA process.

Alonso originally began his career with Buffalo and had a terrific rookie season before landing on the non-football injury list. The use of the designation by the Bills cost Alonso a year of service towards free agency which made him a rare case of a draft pick actually being eligible for a restricted free agent tender. The Bills traded Alonso in 2015 to the Eagles who turned around and moved him to the Dolphins just a year later. Alonso recorded 70 tackles and had two interceptions for Miami last season.