Dolphins sign T.J. McDonald to four-year extension

The Miami Dolphins and safety T.J. McDonald have come to an agreement on a four-year contract extension. McDonald joined the Dolphins this offseason as a free agent, signing a one-year deal at the time. He will serve an eight-game suspension to start the 2017 regular season.

According to a report from ESPN’s James Walker, the new deal will pay McDonald $24 million, with $10 million guaranteed. McDonald’s one-year contract had been set to pay him $1.3 million this season, with about half of that coming back to the team due to the suspension.

The Dolphins coaches and front office have been impressed with McDonald since he arrived in South Florida. He was straight forward with the team about his suspension, which stems from a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy after an arrest for driving under the influence of prescription drugs, and he has been impressive in practice. Miami liked the combination of McDonald and Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones in the back end of their defense, and will now look to keep the tandem together - once McDonald returns from the suspension - for the next several years.