Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones will stay with the team after the 2013 season, the final year of his rookie deal.
NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk reported Monday afternoon that the Dolphins and Jones have agreed to a four-year contract extension that could keep him with the team through 2017.
The Dolphins officially announced the signing Tuesday morning. His deal is worth $29.3 million, $15 million of which is guaranteed.
In 2012, his third season, Jones started all 16 games. He intercepted 4 passes, logged 9 additional pass breakups, and forced 2 fumbles. Jones also made 74 solo tackles and 21 assists. For his career, he has 6 interceptions, 15 pass breakups, 130 tackles, and 4 sacks. Advanced statistics website Pro Football Focus named Jones to its 2nd Team All-NFL squad.
The Dolphins selected Jones in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia. He was slotted to earn $1.323 million in 2013.
Jones was by far the best player on a Dolphins pass defense that gave up more yards through the air than all but 5 NFL teams. Along with newcomers Brent Grimes (a cornerback), Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe (both linebackers who will be used in pass coverage), Jones will try to make the Dolphins more effective against the pass.
In May, Jones was rumored to be considering skipping the Dolphins Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices so that he could gain some negotiating leverage. He ended up attending, however, and still got a contract extension anyway.
