The Dolphins are in salary cap bind. Some ways to manage it, where things stand
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan begins his new job with quite a puzzle, managing a roster than needs a significant infusion of talent but also one that must shed a ton of salary to be cap compliant by the start of the new league year by March 11.
Overthecap.com says the Dolphins are $31 million over the projected cap; spotrac.com lists Miami’s overage at $24 million. ESPN says the Dolphins are $27.5 million over.
Whatever number is accurate, Sullivan and Dolphins executive/capologist Brandon Shore must craft a plan, in the coming weeks, that would give Miami enough flexibility to function this offseason without completely gutting the team of most of its priciest players.
So how do the Dolphins create the room to fill more than 30 roster spots?
A look at the cap consequences of keeping or releasing a dozen veterans, while keeping in mind that teams can only designate two players as post June 1 cuts, a mechanism that allows dead money cap hits to be spread over multiple years:
TUA TAGOVAILOA
It’s difficult to envision a return, even though the 2026 cap hit would be less keeping him ($56.1 million) than releasing him.
If they move on from him this offseason as expected, the Dolphins’ 2026 cap hit for Tagovailoa would be:
1). $99.2 million if he’s cut before June 1.
2). $45.2 million if he’s traded before June 1.
3). $67.4 million if he’s cut after June 1, with another $31.8 million on Miami’s 2027 cap.
4). $13.4 million if he’s traded after June 1, per overthecap.com.
The view here: While I would keep Tagovailoa around as a backup instead of taking the additional cap hit, that appears unlikely.
The ideal scenario would be finding a trade partner with the Dolphins covering some of his salary and throwing in a third-day pick as a carrot. But will there be a single suitor via trade? That’s highly questionable, unless the Dolphins want to give up a second- or third-round pick, which seems short-sighted.
Taking the entire $99 million hit this season would be difficult and require the Dolphins to gut much of the roster, but it would give the Dolphins far more flexibility to construct a team in 2027.
TYREEK HILL
Hill, coming off a major Week 4 knee injury, is due to make $29.9 million next season, but none of that money is assured until mid-March, when $11 million of the $29 million becomes guaranteed if he’s on the team, as well as a $5 million roster bonus.
So the Dolphins almost assuredly will release Hill before mid-March.
Because that contract carries a $51.9 million cap hit, there was virtually no chance that Hill would have returned on that deal — even before the injury.
If the Dolphins as expected cut Hill before the $11 million becomes guaranteed in March, his 2026 cap hit would drop from $51.9 million to $28.2 million. The 2026 Dolphins cap hit would be just $15.9 million if he’s cut after June 1.
The view here: Though waiting until June 1 would be tempting to get that additional $12 million in 2026 cap savings, the Dolphins likely need the $24 million in cap savings simply to be cap compliant. And they likely need to use the post-June 1 cuts on other players.
BRADLEY CHUBB
It’s hard to imagine the Dolphins retaining Chubb at his current 2026 numbers. His current contract carries a $19.4 million salary next season (all nonguaranteed) and a $31.2 million 2026 cap hit.
If they cut or trade him, the cap hit is $23.8 million before June 1 — or $10.9 million after June 1, with the remaining $14 million of the cap hit applied to Miami’s 2027 books.
The view here: If he agrees to a significant pay cut, he’s worth keeping. But whether he would be willing to do that for a second year in a row is questionable.
If not, Chubb would be a logical post-June 1 cut, because the cap savings of releasing him would jump from $7.3 million to $20.2 million after that date.
Some of that $20 million in 2026 cap savings could be used to sign a draft class, sign free agents this summer and perhaps add other potential post-June 1 cuts, with quarterback Kyler Murray one option.
That cap space also could be used to cover the additional $11 million cap charge if Tagovailoa is designated a post-June 1 cut.
MINKAH FITZPATICK
Fitzpatrick — like Chubb, Hill and Austin Jackson — is owed no guaranteed money in 2026.
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 view here: The dead money is too high — and Fitzpatrick has become too valuable — to part ways before June 1. The hope would be renegotiating for a more cap-friendly deal, but Fitzpatrick would need to be amenable.
Teams are not permitted to designate more than two players as post-June 1 cuts. So the Dolphins must decide which two among Tagovailoa, Chubb and Fitzpatrick to be designated post-June 1 cuts, if Miami moves on from all three.
Tagovailoa would very likely be one of them, leaving a tough call between Chubb and Fitzpatrick for the other, if Miami cannot rework contracts with either of those two players.
AUSTIN JACKSON
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).
Problem is, the Dolphins probably cannot afford to use a post-June 1 designation on Jackson because they have only two of those and likely need to use them on Tagovailoa and Chubb or Fitzpatrick.
The view here: Releasing him before June 1 would be pointless, because the dead money hit would be similar to his cap hit if he’s on the team.
And a post-June 1 cut isn’t realistic unless Miami keeps Fitzpatrick and trades Tagovailoa, thus making available a second June 1 designation to potentially use with Chubb.
While Jackson’s return isn’t a sure thing, it seems more likely than not.
JAMES DANIELS
Daniels arrived as Miami’s most-ballyhooed 2025 acquisition, a player who permitted only two sacks in his final 39 games (and 1,367 pass-blocking snaps) with Pittsburgh.
But after missing his final 13 games as a Steeler with a torn Achilles, he sustained a pectoral injury three snaps into his Dolphins regular-season debut and never played again.
A decision on Daniels likely would need to be made in the next seven weeks; $3.48 million of his 2026 salary fully guarantees the third league day of the league year in March.
But per overthecap.com, cutting him before June 1 would increase his 2026 Dolphins cap from $3.6 million to $4.8 million.
The view here: Keep him and hope he regains his previous form.
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 view here: Because Riley Patterson was excellent filling in for Sanders all season (27 for 29) on field goals, it’s tempting to go the cheaper route with Patterson.
Do the Dolphins cut one of the league’s better kickers, who’s still in his prime, for a $3 million cap savings and hope that Patterson replicates his outstanding 2025 season? A case could be made.
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 view here: Ingold showed his value with several big blocks to clear lanes for De’Von Achane, especially during the second half of the season. But the wisdom of allocating $5.1 million cap hit for a fullback, on a team with cap problems, is debatable. The type of offense run by the team’s yet-to-be-hired offensive coordinator could factor into this.
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 view here: A strong case could be made for keeping him, because inside linebacker (Jordyn Brooks and Dodson) was one of the strengths of the team, at least against the run.
But Sullivan conceivably could prefer a draft pick or a player with a different skill set.
NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE
None of his $2.4 million salary next season, and he almost assuredly will be released.
His 2026 cap hit will drop from $3.2 million to $1.6 million with a pre-June 1 cut.
JULIUS BRENTS
The Dolphins assumed the final year of his rookie contract when they claimed his off waivers from the Colts. He played well in one game and struggled in the next before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
None of his $1.8 million salary next season, and his $1.8 million 2026 cap hit disappears entirely (with no dead money) by cutting him.
So what’s the simplest way to get cap compliant? Release Hill before mid-March to create $23.6 million in savings, release Ingold by mid-March to save $3.1 million, cut Sanders by mid-March to create another $3.9 million and release Westbrooke-Ikhine for another $1.6 million.
That $32 million, combined with moving on from Dodson and Brents, would give Miami $7 million to $15 million in space, depending on which website projections you’re inclined to believe.
They will need to get creative, whether through restructures, trades, converting base salary into pro-rotated signing bonuses or other mechanisms. And if the new regime wants Fitzpatrick ($15.6 million) and Chubb ($19.4 million), the team will need answers quickly about their receptiveness to taking less money.
One complicating factor: The Dolphins will have $20.8 million in dead money for Jalen Ramsey on their 2026 cap and $10.2 million for Terron Armstead, per ovethecap.
How deep the Dolphins want to go with cuts comes down to one question that they assuredly will not answer for competitive reasons: Do they want to gut much of the roster to give them max flexibility in 2027? Or do they want to try to remain competitive next season as they embark on a rebuild?
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 12:19 PM.
