An unfortunate concoction of regrettable personnel decisions by former general manager Chris Grier - combined with a degree of bad luck - have left the Dolphins scrambling to position themselves to be even minimally functional when free agency begins in 10 days.
After the NFL set its 2026 salary cap at the low end of projections ($301.2 million), the Dolphins (per overthecap.com) have just $772,000 in cap space with only 52 players under contract; teams can carry as many as 90 throughout the offseason and training camp.
The good news: During the offseason, only the top 51 highest-value contracts count toward a team’s salary cap.
The bad news: Even if the Dolphins sign only a few free agents to minimum contracts, that would put Miami over the cap – which isn’t permitted beginning March 11 – because those contracts would replace cheaper contracts for young players at the bottom of Miami’s top 51.
“We need to get back into a healthy salary cap state,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said last week.
Sullivan said the Dolphins won’t be big “shoppers” in free agency and will simply add “a role player or two who will help us out.”
So while the Dolphins don’t need a ton of room, they do need some - likely at least $10 million in mid-March.
While room could be created by restructuring and extending linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer, Sullivan suggested last week that those discussions won’t come until this summer. Drew Rosenhaus told WSVN-7 last weekend that there has been no discussion of a restructuring for defensive lineman Zach Sieler.
The Dolphins could slightly reduce Jaylen Waddle’s $11.6 million contract by adding void years and converting base salary into option and signing bonuses.
If the Dolphins don’t touch the contracts of any of those four players in the next two weeks, then they would have six logical options to create extra cap space for the start of free agency:
Looking at the pros and cons of each of those six:
▪ Releasing Bradley Chubb with a pre-June 1 designation.
Whether he’s given a pre- or post-June 1 designation, Chubb is expected to be released March 11 when the new league year starts, allowing him to hit the market immediately.
The pros of a pre-June 1 cut: This would give Miami $7.4 million in instant cap space, by reducing his 2026 Dolphins cap hit from $31.2 million to $23.8 million.
The cons of a pre-June 1 cut: By designating Chubb a post June 1 cut instead, the cap savings would be $21 million, with a dead money cap hit of $10.2 million in 2026.
▪ Trading or cutting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is being shopped:
His current contract calls for a $15.8 million salary and an $18.9 million cap hit in 2026. His 2026 Dolphins dead money cap hit drops to $12.9 million if he’s cut or traded before June 1 and just $3.2 million after June 1, but with the difference on Miami’s books in 2027.
The pros of moving on from him now: Trading him before March 11 would give Miami $6 million more to use at the start of free agency.
The cons of moving on from him now (as opposed to trading him after June 1 or designating him as a post June 1 cut):
If the Dolphins don’t release him and keep him on their books for the next few months, they could find a contender willing to trade them a draft pick for Fitzpatrick this summer or during training camp if that team loses a starting safety.
Releasing him as a post June 1 cut (which can be done March 11) would give the Dolphins $15.7 million in cap space to use to sign its draft class and June/July free agents who fall through the cracks. But that space could not be used until June 2 or beyond.
▪ Trading or cutting kicker Jason Sanders:
He’s under contract next season at $3.7 million; none of that money is guaranteed. He has a $4.6 million cap hit if he’s on the team. If he’s cut before June 1, his dead money 2026 Dolphins cap hit would be $663,000.
The pros of cutting or trading him now: This would be a clean, quick way to give the Dolphins $4 million of salary cap breathing room at the start of free agency.
The cons of cutting him now: What if Miami cuts Sanders and is then outbid for Riley Patterson (who went 27 for 29 on field goals last season) in free agency? That would be risky unless Miami has a gentleman’s agreement with Patterson.
▪ Releasing fullback Alec Ingold:
None of his $3.6 million salary is guaranteed next season, and his 2026 Dolphins cap hit would drop from $5.1 million to $1.9 million if he’s released.
The pros of cutting him now: Miami instantly gains $3.2 million in cap space.
The cons: Coach Jeff Hafley has said the Dolphins see value in a fullback, and he’s a helpful component in the type of offense that Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik plan to run.
▪ Releasing linebacker Tyrel Dodson:
Dodson is due $2.4 million, none guaranteed, next season. The 2026 cap hit for Dodson would drop from $3.7 million to $717,500 with a pre-June 1 cut.
The pros of cutting him now: It’s a simple way to gain $3 million in cap space.
The cons of cutting him now: Dodson, who had 129 tackles and five sacks last season, is very good value at that price. Unless a team uses a high draft pick on an inside linebacker, Miami won’t find a better starter at that price point.
▪ Trading or cutting Austin Jackson or better yet, convincing him to take a pay cut:
The veteran right tackle is due $9.9 million next season (none of that is guaranteed) with a $15.8 million cap hit. If the Dolphins decide to part ways, his cap hit would be $13.8 million if the Dolphins release or trade him before June 1, but just $4.3 million after June 1 (with a $9.5 million hit in 2027).
But it was telling last week that Sullivan said A). that he envisions him being on the team and B). that he has spoken to his agent, which suggests Miami wants to re-do his deal.
A pay cut would be the best solution for the Dolphins, who would get to keep a pretty good (albeit oft-injured) starter while also lowering the cap hit. If he’s not agreeable to that…
The pros of cutting or trading him now: A trade for a 2026 mid-round pick could be justified because of the injury history.
The cons of cutting him now: The cap savings would be so negligible with a pre-June 1 cut designation that it’s hardly worth the trouble. Unless the team uses a high draft pick on a right tackle, Miami won’t find a better starter for the $2 million saved.
A post June 1 cut – which saves $11.5 million in space - could be justified, but teams can use post-June 1 designations on only two players, and Miami might need to use them on two among Chubb, Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick
Tagovailoa update
Tua Tagovailoa, who is expected to be sent away, isn’t on this list because there are only a few ways the Dolphins could jettison him and save cap space.
One way, which is entirely unrealistic, is they find a team to pay his entire $54 million guaranteed salary in a trade. That would save the Dolphins $11 million against the 2026 cap.
Another idea was raised Sunday by Dolphins podcaster Chris Kouffman, who noted that Miami “can clear $30.4 million of space by restructuring Tagovailoa, then releasing him post-June 1st. That would lower his hit from $56.3 million to $25.8 million. Then it would rise to $38 million in June.”
Spotrac.com’s Michael Ginnetti said Sunday that “the most likely outcome” for Tagovailoa is a release with a post-June 1 designation, which has been widely expected because the Dolphins have so far been unable to find a team willing to trade for him, which is Miami’s preference.
Ginnetti said “Miami is expected to exercise Tua’s $15M option bonus, carry his $56.2M cap hit into June, then take on dead cap hits of” $55.4 million 2026 and $43.8 million in 2027.
There’s also the post-June 1 designation option of taking on a $67.2 million cap hit in 2026 and a $32 million hit in 2027.
Per overthecap.com, the Dolphins already are on the hook for $73.9 million in dead money before even counting dead money hits from Tagovailoa, Chubb and Fitzpatrick (if he’s not on the team).
Willis report
Though Sullivan sounded disinclined to spend a lot of money in free agency, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Sunday cited a source as saying “Miami is definitely in” on Green Bay Packers impending unrestricted free agent quarterback Malik Willis, adding that “a team offering $30-plus million per year doesn’t appear realistic.
“Many front offices believe the more accurate comp is Justin Fields’ deal with the Jets last year (two years, $40 million).”
If they wish, the Dolphins could accommodate that type of two-year, $40 million contract by using prorated signing bonuses, void years and several of the six aforementioned cap-clearing options.