Dolphins cut Jesse Davis, Allen Hurns, freeing cap room after splash acquisitions
The Dolphins have released offensive lineman Jesse Davis and wide receiver Allen Hurns with a failed physical, the team announced Thursday, giving them much-needed cap relief after signing left tackle Terron Armstead and trading for wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the past two days.
The team went through the first week of free agency without undertaking any cost-saving measures and didn’t need to with over $60 million in cap space. But after re-signing defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah to a $65 million contract, placing the $10.9 million franchise tag on tight end Mike Gesicki, signing nine outside free agents and retaining many of their own, the money began to dwindle. Armstead received a five-year, $75 million deal while Hill was made the highest-paid receiver in NFL history with a four-year, $120 million extension.
Although Hill’s extension came with a modest $6 million cap hit in 2022, the Dolphins entered Thursday with about $5 million in cap room, according to the National Football League Players Association’s salary cap report. Releasing Davis and Hurns saves about $6 million, which the Dolphins can put toward making additional moves and setting aside money to sign their draft class. The team still has five picks in the 2022 NFL Draft after giving up five selections over the next two years to get Hill.
Davis, 30, entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2015 and was initially signed by the Dolphins in 2016. He went on to start 72 games across the offensive line, becoming a respected leader on a team that has seen massive overhaul since he first arrived. Davis struggled mightily at right tackle in 2021, however, one of the lowest-rated tackles in the league by Pro Football Focus.
Signing Armstead to play left tackle gave the Dolphins more flexibility at quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside, where there are three in-house candidates to fill the spot in 2022. Liam Eichenberg started two games at right tackle as a rookie and Robert Hunt, who started every game at right guard, played 11 games at right tackle in 2020. Austin Jackson, who split time at left tackle and left guard, is also likely to compete for a spot at either right guard or right tackle with the addition of Armstead and Connor Williams, who is projected to be the team’s starting left guard.
Hurns, 30, opted out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns and was placed on injured reserve because of a wrist injury last August during training camp. The Miami native and UM alum was initially signed to a one-year deal in 2019 and then received a two-year, $8 million extension.
Hurns, who entered the league an undrafted rookie in 2014, appeared in 14 games as a Dolphin, catching 32 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins are set to enter 2022 with a revamped and deep receiving corps, headlined by Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The team also signed Cedrick Wilson Jr. and DeVante Parker has two years remaining on his extension.
The Dolphins can free additional money with more cuts or restructuring contracts. One candidate for a restucture is Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard. General manager Chris Grier said at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine that the team would address Howard’s contract this offseason in hopes of coming to an agreement on a new deal. While a revised contract would likely put Howard atop the league’s highest-paid cornerbacks again, it could also free cap space in the immediate future.
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 12:05 PM.
