Here’s how the expiring labor agreement could affect Miami Dolphins’ offseason business
A six-pack of Miami Dolphins notes on a Thursday:
▪ During a different year, the Dolphins could release safety Reshad Jones this offseason and save $11.6 million in cap space by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation.
But with the NFL’s labor agreement set to expire after next season, that option is no longer available to Miami either before or after June 1, as overthecap.om’s Jason Fitzgerald explained.
As Fitzgerald explained here:
“For those unfamiliar with the June 1, it was a date in the NFL calendar that was used to defer acceleration [dead money from future years] due to signing bonus prorations to the following league year. So when you cut a player all the cap dollars have to be taken in 2020. While this sounds bad to most fans its not that big of a deal.
“Only a handful of teams in recent years have had such a bad cap/contract situation where they have needed to use the June 1 so most times deferring money to the following year is just due to circumstance not need. If you wanted to put a number on this the average team should plan on keeping an additional $3-$3.5 million to account for cuts that normally would be treated as a June 1.”
That means, barring a change in how the NFL is operating this offseason, the Dolphins cutting Jones would come with an $8.1 million dead money cap hit and $7 million in cap savings. He costs $11.5 million in salary and $15.6 million against the cap if he’s retained next season.
If a post June 1 designation were available, cutting Jones likely would be a no-brainer from a cap standpoint. But without that mechanism available, it’s not as clear a call.
As is the case with Albert Wilson, keeping Jones on a restructured contract is another option.
Jones played in only five games last season because of injuries and had 27 tackles, but Brian Flores raved about him after he went on injured reserve.
▪ That’s not the only labor-related change that could impact the Dolphins this offseason.
While it’s possible the Dolphins could attempt to carry over some of their $100 plus million in cap space to the summer of 2021, Fitzgerald said any team doing that would be gambling because carryover space may be eliminated.
Explained Fitzgerald: “Technically the CBA ends in 2020 so the concept of carrying over space seems unlikely. The last CBA was somewhat different with regard to carryover rules so its not fair to lean on that for information but it was a ‘start over’ in 2011. So it’s possible that the NFL would agree to just keep things going as if there was no interruption in 2021 but there is also no guarantee. Rather than chance losing it the smart teams should be putting voids and buyback options into player contracts this year which should be a way to accelerate future prorated money into 2020 and thus use up the cap room.
“Likewise if you want to cut a player who is underperforming you can do it after the season is over and use up some of that cap room that you have and get the player off the books for 2021.”
According to the nflpa’s web site, the Dolphins have $17 million in carryover space from this past season, a figure accounted for in the $100 million-plus figure. The possibility of not being able to carry over space could motivate the Dolphins to extend the contracts of a few players entering the final year of their deals.
▪ Cornerback Nik Needham, who covered passes thrown by Josh Rosen in practice the past seven months, suggests nobody should give up on him. “He’s got good arm strength, can throw well on the move. And he can manipulate you with his eyes.”
▪ The Dolphins were impressed by some of what they saw in rookie linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who played six games after coming off injured reserve.
He said the Dolphins “see me as an edge guy” and want him equipped to play weakside linebacker, strongside linebacker and defensive end.
“I did all right,” Van Ginkel said late in the season. “I’m still feeling my way around. There are some things you can get away with in college that you can’t in the NFL. Something I need to improve on his run-stopping. My weight in not there with bigger, stronger tackles.”
Van Ginkel said he’s 240 and “to get above 245 would be the goal this offseason. That would help in the run game.”
▪ The promotion of cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer to defensive coordinator won’t be a huge leap for him in this sense:
“My understanding is that Josh Boyer was very involved in coordinating the defense last year,” agent Drew Rosenhaus said on his weekly appearance on WSVN-Fox 7’s Sports Xtra. “In talking to several players on the team, he had a very very significant role with the defense and everybody is excited about his ascension. Patrick Graham will be missed but everyone on the team believes Boyer will do a very capable job.”
Graham left to become defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
▪ Quick stuff: Allen Hurns said fellow receiver Gary Jennings - the fourth-round rookie claimed off waivers from Seattle — was “bummed” about getting hurt after only a game here but believes he’s got a bright future. “He’s similar to me, can play inside or outside,” Hurns said. The battle among Jennings, Hurns, Grant, Isaiah Ford and whoever else for the final two or three receiver spots shot be highly competitive....
Pro Football Focus’ mock draft has the Dolphins taking (of course) Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5, Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones at No. 18 and UF cornerback CJ Henderson at No. 26.
PFF said: “Jones earned the highest overall grade we’ve ever given to a non-Power 5 offensive tackle (93.2). And unlike many Group-of-5 tackles, Jones has all the length and athleticism to stick there in the NFL....Henderson won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but he should taste just right for man-heavy defenses like the Dolphins’. Even with a relative down year this season, Henderson allowed only 20 catches all season long. He lost more downfield than he did in 2018, but he was often still at the catch point.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 4:26 PM.
