One NFL personnel director had some major praise for Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.
The personnel director believes that Holland should be the next player that Miami pays, and it makes sense since he’s become such a key part of the team’s defense.
“Every time you watched Miami on cross-tape, you see No. 8 and say, that’s a real guy, the next one they pay,” the NFL personnel director told ESPN.
A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Holland has started 30 of the 33 games that he’s played in for the Dolphins over the last two seasons. The personnel director called him a “chess piece,” referring to all of the different ways the Dolphins can use him on defense.
“He does everything – – range, can play around the box, tackles,” the director said. “Ultimate chess piece.”
Last season, Holland played in all 17 games for the Dolphins and recorded a career-high 96 tackles. He had 1.5 sacks in the 2022 season and has amassed 4.0 total sacks in his first two seasons.
As a rookie, Holland recovered three fumbles and he forced another in 2022.
The Dolphins safety is also solid in coverage, recording 17 passes defended and four interceptions over the first two seasons of his NFL career.
Holland’s versatility certainly makes the Dolphins a dangerous defensive unit, especially since they added multiple cornerbacks to boost their secondary this offseason.
Miami traded for three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a deal with the Los Angeles Rams, and then it drafted cornerback Cam Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Dolphins’ defense ranked 27th in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season, so hopefully it can make a step forward with those additions alongside Holland and star cornerback Xavien Howard.
Since Holland was a second-round pick, he doesn’t have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract. That means that Miami has him under contract through the 2024 season, but after that he can hit free agency.
Miami may want to consider locking up the do-it-all safety sooner than that, as it would avoid having to outbid other teams in the open market.
In the 2023 season, Holland is a massive value for Miami, as he has a base salary of less than $1.5 million.
