The Miami Dolphins have had a wild offseason, ushering in a new era after cutting ties with a number of notable players such as Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Bradley Chubb.
Miami looks very different entering the 2026 NFL season, with a new starting quarterback (Malik Willis), head coach (Jeff Hafley), general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan), and supporting cast.
With that said, star running back De’Von Achane will be back, as Miami just gave him a four-year extension worth $68,000,000, which prompted some strong reactions from the NFL world.
NFL World Reacts to De’Von Achane’s 4-Year Extension
After three seasons in the NFL, Achane is already recognized as one of the best running backs in the entire league.
Last season, Achane was the second-best running back in PFSN’s RB Impact metric, earning an 87.1 grade behind only Buffalo Bills star James Cook’s 90.1 RBi score.
Achane is mainly known for his speed, but he also has amazing vision and agility, making him very tough for defenses to take down. He’s also an excellent receiving back, so he can impact the game in multiple ways.
Some in the NFL world praised the Dolphins’ decision to extend Achane.
“Elite top-3 RB in the NFL,” wrote one influencer. “Nice to see the Dolphins finally doing something right.”
Elite Top-3 RB in the NFL.
Nice to see the Dolphins finally doing something right.#PhinsUp https://t.co/NOs8K9IOkL
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) May 13, 2026
Will Manso, the sports director of WPLGLocal10, praised the move as well.
“Big step for new regime to lockdown their franchise back. Achane does it all for them. Best RB and WR all in one. Great deal for both,” Manso wrote on X.
Big step for new regime to lockdown their franchise back. Achane does it all for them. Best RB and WR all in one. Great deal for both. https://t.co/hlsLgka17a
— Will Manso (@WillManso) May 13, 2026
“Good for him,” added NFL analyst JP Acosta. “Very curious what [Jahmyr] Gibbs and Bijan [Robinson] get.”
Achane has been a really good receiving back for Miami; last year, he totaled 488 receiving yards after racking up 592 receiving yards the year before. Podcaster Joel Moran argued that Achane’s “value damn near rivals elite receivers.”
“I’m all for running backs getting paid a bag. They take the most hits and the lifespan is the lowest of any position,” wrote Moran. “Plus, the woke ‘RBs don’t matter movement’ is false. Dudes like Achane are true difference makers.”
I’m all for running backs getting paid a bag. They take the most hits and the lifespan is the lowest of any position.
Plus, the woke “RBs don’t matter movement” is false. Dudes like Achane are true difference makers.
His value damn near rivals elite receivers. https://t.co/zpxNHVw5hW
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) May 13, 2026
While Achane has produced at a high level, some are questioning where the rebuilding Dolphins go from here and whether Achane fits their timeline.
“I have no idea what the Dolphins’ vision is,” one influencer wrote.
Achane will be the top weapon in Miami’s Willis-led offense. Willis has shown flashes in his limited starts and he has a ton of potential as a dual-threat quarterback.
With the Dolphins entering a rebuild, many thought Achane could be traded for picks. However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz revealed that was never in the cards.
“GM Jon Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley have been adamant that De’Von Achane is a building block for the future. They declined all trade calls and are now rewarding him with a massive contract,” Schultz wrote.
While some may not agree with the Achane deal, this was clearly a top priority of the Dolphins’ new regime, and they managed to keep one of their best players in town for the next four years.
