The Miami Dolphins have locked up their star running back De’Von Achane with a lucrative four-year contract extension valued at $64 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The source, who requested anonymity since the team hasn’t officially announced the agreement, confirmed that $32 million of the deal is guaranteed money.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz was the first to break news of the extension.
With an annual average of $16 million, Achane now ranks as the third-highest paid running back in the league, trailing only Saquon Barkley at $20.6 million and Christian McCaffrey at $19 million per year.
The talented back posted impressive numbers in 2025, accumulating a personal-best 1,350 rushing yards across 238 attempts while topping the league with an average of 5.7 yards per carry. His outstanding performance earned him his inaugural Pro Bowl honor. Achane found the end zone eight times on the ground and added four touchdown catches, while his 488 receiving yards placed him fourth among all running backs.
In just three NFL seasons, Achane has compiled 3,057 rushing yards, setting a franchise record for any Dolphins player in their opening three campaigns. His 1,277 career receiving yards represent the second-best total among Miami running backs during their first three seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
“He’s dynamic,” new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said in March. “I mean there’s plays that you’re not even blocked right for and he gets 6 or 7 yards. His vision, his acceleration, the way he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s so hard to defend.”
While Miami has been conducting a major roster overhaul that involved releasing or trading numerous veteran players — including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle — general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made it evident that Achane was not on the trading block.
Selected in the third round from Texas A&M, Achane joins an exclusive group of just seven running backs since 1970 who have recorded 20 or more rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns within their first three professional seasons.
“He’s obviously very important to what we’re doing,” Sullivan said last month amid contract talks with Achane, “and it’s all part of it. It’s part of professional sports. We’ll get where we need to be one way or the other.”
