Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins sent a message after the release of Jason Sanders
The Miami Dolphins are entering a rebuild. The team has spent the early portion of the offseason shedding players with large salaries. It started with therelease of All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was set to carry a $51 million cap hit. Bradley Chubb and Tua Tagovailoa will most likely be post-June 1 releases.
Now, the team released two players who had been members of the Miami Dolphins for considerable time. Jason Sanders, who was Miami’s longest-tenured player, and a former All-Pro selection, was released after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a new contract that would have reduced his salary.
Sanders suffered a hip injury prior to Miami’s regular season opener, and did not return during the season. After his release, the Dolphins shared a message on social media.
Miami Dolphins Send Message
After announcing his release,the Miami Dolphins shared a post with the caption, “8 seasons as a Dolphin. Thank you.” The post included a video of his game-winning kick during the 2023 season against the Dallas Cowboys, which clinched a playoff berth for Miami. The video also contained the following Dolphins accolades: franchise all-time leader in field goal percentage, 2nd in franchise history with 187 field goals made, 3rd in franchise history in total points, most field goals in a game in franchise history, and his 2020 first-team All-Pro selection.
Sanders’ preseason injury came at an unfortunate time in his career, as he was fresh off the second-best season of his career. In the 2024 season, Sanders went 12-for-14 on field goal attempts of over 50 yards and missed only four attempts all season. He served as Miami’s primary kicker for seven seasons and made 90% or more of his attempts in three seasons. He departed Miami having made his last 27 field goals, including nine from over 50+ yards.
Sanders was originally drafted with the 229th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He replaced kicker Cody Parkey, who also left the Dolphins after a strong season in which he hit over 90% of his field goal attempts. On that occasion, Parkey left Miami as a free agent after signing a four-year deal in Chicago. After struggling in the regular season, and missing a key postseason field goal, Parkey was released after one season. Sanders will hope for a better outcome with his new team.
Dolphins Ramifications
The releases of Ingold and Sanders create two additional holes on a roster that was already depleted. The team could opt to re-sign Sanders’ 2025 replacement, Riley Patterson, butMiami Herald writer Barry Jackson noted that the team had not engaged in conversations with Patterson as the team’s priority had been Sanders.
On the more positive side, the moves should provide the Dolphins some salary cap relief.Miami Herald writer Omar Kelly posted on X,“The release of Jason Sanders and Alec Ingold gets the Dolphins to $5 million in the black as Thursday’s start of the league new year begins. Once Miami cuts Tua and Chubb as June 1 cuts they will gain another $9.1M later this summer. Most of that will be needed to sign the draft class, but the Dolphins basically have about $10M in cap space to work with during free agency. However, keep in mind everyone signed for $1.25M or less a year won’t count against their finances.”