Miami Dolphins and Mike Pouncey agree to 5-year, $52 million contract

The Miami Dolphins and Mike Pouncey have agreed to terms on a five-year deal that will make him the highest paid center in the National Football League. This news comes from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the contract is worth a total of $52.15 dollars million with $22 million dollars guaranteed. While many are getting hung up on the $52 million dollars part, remember that the only thing that matters with NFL contracts is the amount guaranteed. It is likely that most of that money is backloaded and Pouncey probably won't see a ton of that when the time comes.

Pouncey was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and was scheduled to make $7.4 million dollars this season under his fifth-year rookie option. It is likely he will make less this season in an effort to help the tight salary cap that was created when the team signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Pro Football Focus, which doesn't tell the whole story but serves as a nice foundation, graded Pouncey in the top ten of most major categories at the center position in 2013, his last full season playing the center position. Last season, he played guard to help the thin depth along the offensive line.

Pouncey is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, including 2014 when he made the team as a guard. The Dolphins have rewarded one of their own and it's hard to see why people are upset, especially because it's not our money that is being spent. The market is what it is and the Dolphins wanted to keep a guy that have groomed and developed since day one.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

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