Miami Dolphins' defensive end Zach Sieler has easily outperformed his current contract, but the rising star still showed up to training camp and explained his mindset around new contract negotiations.
Dolphins' Zach Sieler Explains Future Focused Mindset Around Contract Talks originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Miami Dolphins signed defensive end Zach Sieler to a three-year, $30.75 million contract extension in 2023, and the edge rusher has significantly outperformed it. Sieler has risen into a star in the first two years of the contract with back-to-back 10 sack seasons.
His emergence over the last two years brought a lot of uncertainty into this offseason. Many believed that with his performance, he would push for a new, more lucrative contract to match his performance on the field.
After participating in all team activities through the Spring, the fear was that Sieler would show up to training camp but not participate, holding-in to negotiate a new contract ahead of the 2025 season.
However, the Dolphins' training camp got underway this week, and Sieler was out there practicing with his team. The Dolphins' edge rusher spoke with the media for the first time Thursday morning and shared his mindset around a new contract.
Dolphins DT Zach Sieler didn’t comment on whether he’s outplayed his current contract — said he’s keeping those talks between him and the team
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) July 24, 2025
He added that what’s important to him is being out here with his teammates; he missed OTAs but present for minicamp + training camp pic.twitter.com/kzphZg3S6z
But first, after being asked about a new contract, Sieler took a moment to appreciate what he's already accomplished and earned in his career.
"So, we have more than we ever imagined. I'm beyond blessed for these last seven years alone," Sieler said. "My wife and I love how our life has turned out, and it's just been awesome."
When players get into contract negotiations, and more money is on the table, you rarely hear players take a step back and voice their gratitude. However, that's just a small demonstration of Sieler's forward-focused mindset around a new contract with the Dolphins.
Then the Dolphins' rising star explained how he feels he's only getting better and referenced his journey to where he's at now.
"Now I do feel that respect coming, and I think I've earned it. I know I've earned it. And I think something we always joke about, my wife and I, is I played at (Division II), Christian likes to tell me that all the time, he still does, he told me that before we started camp. I was cut twice, all that stuff," Sieler said. "I think I have, I know I have the best years ahead of me. I didn't play for three years in the NFL, I only played two and a half in college. So you really think about it, like I got less years under my belt than some rookies do.
"So I really feel like my best years are ahead of me, and I have all that knowledge and experience from the last seven years. So, I'm really excited to see what this next few years have in store for me."
This offers a perspective into Sieler's mind of why he would be participating in all offseason activities and foregoing a holdout for a new contract. The edge rusher believes he's only going to continue to get better.
Sieler has the 2025 and 2026 seasons under his current contract before he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Over the last two seasons, Sieler has collected 20 sacks, 118 tackles, 41 quarterback hits, and 24 TFLs.
The Dolphins' front four should also get a healthy trio of Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Chop Robinson to play alongside Sieler in 2025. That would be scary for opposing offenses if everyone can stay healthy.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
