Kendall Fuller, Durham Smythe join Mostert as Dolphins cuts. What it means for Miami’s cap
Hours after running back Raheem Mostert’s release was revealed, the Dolphins also parted ways later Friday with starting cornerback Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe, the team’s longest tenured player on offense.
The Dolphins saved $2.7 million against the cap by releasing Fuller, $2.2 million by dismissing Smythe and $2.9 million by cutting Mostert. So that’s $7.8 million in total cap savings, which leaves Miami still $5 million above the 2025 salary cap. Teams must be cap compliant by March 10.
One thing all three had in common: They had no guaranteed money due next season. Fuller was set to make $6.4 million, Smythe $3.1 million and Mostert $2.5 million. None of the three will get a dime of that money.
In his only season in Miami, Fuller wasn’t bad when he played -- permitting a 92.8 passer rating in his coverage area -- but was sidelined three times (twice for a concussion, and then a season-ending knee injury).
In 11 games (all starts), he had 50 tackles, no interceptions and seven passes defended as Xavien Howard’s successor. His departure leaves Miami needing a veteran boundary cornerback to supplement Jalen Ramsey and nickel cornerback Kader Kohou.
Fuller had a reasonable $8.3 million 2025 cap number, and Miami now must carry $5.4 million in dead money because he’s being released before June 1.
Smythe’s release drops his 2025 Dolphins cap hit from $4.8 million to $2.6 million.
It would have been $1.6 million in dead money instead of $2.6 million if Miami had waited until after June 1 to release him. But the Dolphins need the cap space for the start of free agency in mid-March.
After playing 62, 57 and 76 percent of Miami’s offensive snaps from 2021 through 2023, Smythe lost his starting job in 2024 and played just 32 percent of Miami’s offensive snaps, finishing with just nine receptions for 53 yards.
Both Julian Hill and Jonnu Smith surpassed him on the depth chart in early September, though Smythe ended up making four starts.
Smythe, a former fourth round pick from Notre Dame, finishes his seven-year Dolphins career with 132 catches for 1228 yards and three TDs in 112 games and 74 starts.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM.
