The top safety on the market this offseason, Dolphins S Jevon Holland could very well break the bank for whichever team acquires him. A second-round pick out of Oregon in 2021, Holland stepped into a starting role in Week 2 of his rookie season and never looked back. His breakout came in 2023, where he was PFF’s highest-graded safety despite missing five games due to injury. He garnered significant recognition for his work that year and would have been in the All-Pro conversation had he stayed healthy.
By contrast, 2024 was a down year for Holland. He wasn’t bad, but his play didn’t live up to the lofty standards he set earlier in his career. The Dolphins seem prepared to move on, as multiple reports indicate they won’t tag him and HC Mike McDaniel said he’s earned the right to test free agency.
Holland lines up all over the field, but free safety is his bread and butter. He has the range to be a true single-field safety but is also comfortable in two-high shells. He can play man or zone, take on responsibilities in the slot or in the box, and has even lined up to rush the passer off the edge on occasion in his NFL career. Part of what makes him such an appealing target in free agency is his ability to adapt to a variety of schemes and formations. Versatility is a key component of his game. He’s also a ballhawk and has a knack for making game-changing plays.
Predicting a contract for Holland is tricky coming off a down year and his injury history. For safeties, the biggest contract out there right now belongs to the Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield Jr., who signed a four-year, $81.1 million deal with $45 million in total guarantees. Winfield is a more decorated and accomplished player than Holland, but free agency tends to drive up the price.
A better analog might be the contract Xavier McKinney signed with the Packers last offseason. Like Holland, McKinney was a former high second-round pick who had suffered through some injuries in his career, and he signed a four-year deal with $16.75 million in APY. I expect a four-year deal coming in somewhere between Winfield and McKinney, maybe in the ballpark of the Derwin James/Minkah Fitzpatrick deal at around $19 million APY.
Holland, 24, was a two-year starter at Oregon, who opted out of the 2020 season. The Dolphins drafted Holland with pick No. 36 overall in the second round back in 2021.
Holland is in the final year of his four-year deal worth $8,716,409 million and a $3,699,207 signing bonus. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
In 2024, Holland has appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins and recorded 62 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, four pass defenses and one forced fumble.
We have him included in our Top 100 – 2025 Free Agents list.
Indianapolis Colts
From a roster standpoint, there probably isn’t a better fit for Holland in the entire league. The Colts need a free safety more than anything else — Julian Blackmon is set to hit free agency, and he’s better in the box anyway. Even if Indy re-signs him, they’ll need to add another safety. They have the cap space with over $30 million available to them. Holland would slot in next to Nick Cross to give the Colts a quality starting safety duo.
The caveat here is the history of Colts GM Chris Ballard. Known for his scouting prowess, he firmly believes in building through the draft and is extremely wary of overspending in free agency. In the past, this has led to a lack of outside additions to the Colts’ roster. This year, however, Ballard has stated multiple times he’s open to making splashier moves. Until he actually does so, it would be smart to take that sentiment with a grain of salt. But Ballard (along with the rest of this Indianapolis regime) is fighting for his job this year, and cited a lack of new blood in the locker room as a key reason for the culture issues brought to light at the end of last season.
If Ballard and Company decide to swing big in free agency, there isn’t a better fit than Holland. He would lock down the starting free safety spot, a weakness for Indy in recent years, and allow them to spend key draft picks on more traditionally valuable positions. The Colts have too many roster weaknesses to go from borderline wildcard team to significant playoff threat just through the draft alone, and Holland might be the big name to watch in free agency.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Sometimes new regimes like to kick off their tenure with a splash signing or two. Liam Coen is the new head man in Jacksonville, and as bad as things got over the last two seasons, this team isn’t as far from contending as you might think. They have an established quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and some quality pieces across the roster, including Brian Thomas Jr. at receiver and Josh Hines-Allen at edge rusher.
Still, the Jaguars need safety help, badly. Well, they need help all over their defense, but safety is one of the worst offenders. Andre Cisco is a free agent and reports indicate Jacksonville isn’t inclined to bring him back. Their other two safeties, Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson, were two of the six lowest-graded safeties in the NFL last season, per PFF. As much as the Jaguars need players on the defensive line and at corner, the safety position needs an overhaul as well.
Signing Holland would give the Jaguars stability in their secondary and a star on defense to build around alongside Hines-Allen. He can make life easier for potential young cornerback additions and is scheme-versatile, offering the team flexibility down the line. Jacksonville has the cap space and other priorities in the draft, this fit makes a ton of sense.
Buffalo Bills
After years of not quite reaching the mountaintop, the Bills elected to go through a roster reset in 2024 and move on from some aging veterans. Despite reaching the AFC Championship, their defense was shaky for most of the year, particularly in the secondary. The safety trio of Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop underwhelmed, with none ranking higher than 75th in PFF grade for the position. It’s the most obvious place to bring in a potential upgrade in free agency.
With the roster in better shape, it might be time for Buffalo to load up for a real Super Bowl run. Bills QB Josh Allen is coming off an MVP campaign, and while there are other areas of need, safety might be the biggest. Plus, signing Holland in free agency would allow the Bills to focus their draft picks on keeping the roster stacked with young talent at premium positions.
The biggest hang-up for the Bills is their cap situation. They are currently over $10 million in the red, though some restructures for their stars and some judicious roster cuts will bring them comfortably under the cap. Still, they likely only have room for one marquee free agent signing, and they’ll have to decide if they want that to be Holland, someone else, or if they’d rather invest in several mid-tier free agents for the same price.
Holland would be a great fit for this team as a playmaking safety that will instantly elevate the back-end of their defense. The time is now to invest in their future with Allen in his prime and a young, ascending roster.
Other teams to watch: Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Denver Broncos
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