The Miami Dolphins have stated they are in conversations with running back De'Von Achane on an extension, after labeling him as a "foundational piece." Despite rumors that Achane was potentially set to be a trade chip like wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan came out and denied that fact.

Now, Achane is expected to get a new deal, and he could get something similar to Breece Hall, who signed a three-year, $45.75 deal. There is no guarantee that the Dolphins' back gets an annual amount of $15.25 like Hall, but his projected contract will pay him as a top-five running back.

Spotrac compiles data to project contracts for every player, and the site has predicted what Achane may receive due to his "market value," which brings together stats, age, and many other factors. Per the site, he should be given something along the lines of a four-year, $59.18 million deal, which would pay him around $14.79 million per season. 

Naturally, there could be some wiggle room on the over or under on the contract, but a deal that would launch Achane into the top five highest-paid at the position does make a lot of sense.

Breaking the contract projection down to a granular level, Achane getting paid $14.8 million (rounded up) per season, would place him as the fifth-highest-paid back in the league. This would place him above players like Kenneth Walker and Jonathan Taylor.

Achane would also be below Hall, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Saquon Barkley. 

Looking at this from a performance standpoint, Achane is entering his fourth season, while most of the above players have far more years in the league. This means they have consistently been playmakers across the board. 

McCaffrey has 4,497 yards from scrimmage over the last three seasons, including  38 touchdowns. His 2024 season was cut short due to multiple injuries, and he may have had far more.

Barkley has 4,938 yards from scrimmage and 34 touchdowns. Henry has 5,240 yards and 46 touchdowns.

What separates them from Achane is consistency over a longer period of time. The Dolphins running back is entering his fourth season and has a total of 4,334 yards and 35 touchdowns from scrimmage.

Achane has showcased why he is one of the best dual-threat backs in the league, and led the entire NFL with 5.7 yards per carry in 2025. That is nothing to scoff at, but he is far younger than his counterparts, minus Hall.

The Dolphins are likely to give him a deal that would place him among the top five, but he will need to put together a couple more seasons of consistency until he reaches the numbers higher than the aforementioned backs that are longer veterans. 

There is a reason why Miami chose not to trade Achane, as they view him as a future cornerstone for this team, and the stats prove it for sure. The Dolphins' back deserves an extension, which is likely to happen before the start of the regular season. It will just be interesting to see if the projection from Spotrac is true.

There is also the guaranteed money to consider, which is far more important in any deal. It protects the player from injuries and many other issues. Achane may not even want a deal that pays him a lot of annual money, but more so a deal that protects his longevity and future in the NFL.