DT Zach Sieler Wants To Retire With Dolphins

After signing an extension that made him the highest-paid player on Miami’s defense just a year ago, defensive tackle Zach Sieler likely isn’t planning to retire anytime soon. Whenever he does, though, he’ll want to do so as a Dolphin. Per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Sieler told the media recently that “he’d like to spend the rest of his career in Miami and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Once an unranked high school recruit who walked on at Ferris State University, Sieler has come a long way since former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made him the last draft pick of Newsome’s tenure as GM. Baltimore waived Sieler in only his second season with the team, but the Dolphins got to make one the more impactful waiver claims in the franchise’s history, as a result.

With a need for someone at his position, Miami put Sieler to work, quickly having him make his first NFL start within three weeks of moving to Miami, for which he rewarded them with his first career sack. That was only a small sample of the disruptiveness Sieler would offer. In his first full year with the Dolphins, Zieler showed just what the Ravens had let go as he pestered opposing backfields with three sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits.

Sieler saw a bit of a dip in production in the next two years before delivering two straight 10.0-sack seasons in which he also notched 24 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hits. Over the course of his seven years in Miami, Sieler’s 35.5 sacks, 59 tackles for loss, and 78 quarterback hits have made him a vital part of the Dolphins’ defense and pass rush.

After trading away pass rusher Jaelan Phillips in the regular season, Miami saw the mass exodus of talent continue this offseason as it said goodbye to offensive stars like wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The team seemed mostly intent on retaining young talent, extending running back De’Von Achane and signing linebacker Jordyn Brooks, but despite reported trade interest, the Dolphins didn’t move Sieler.

At this point, it appears the team will not be moving Sieler, and that seems to be just fine with him. As he’s told the media, he wants to spend the rest of his career in South Florida, so as Miami navigates what appears to be a bit of a rebuild, Sieler’s veteran presence will continue to anchor the Dolphins defense for the foreseeable future.