Of those 18 needs, some assuredly must be filled in the draft and with cheap veteran stopgaps. But generally, you get what you pay for, and for every Zach Sieler claimed on waivers, there are five players like Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore and Willie Snead IV, cheap veterans who don’t work out.
The Dolphins are in this financial predicament largely because seven players have 2025 cap hits topping $13 million, with four of those above $22 million: Tagovailoa ($39.4 million cap hit), outside linebacker Bradley Chubb ($29.3 million), Hill ($27.7 million), Armstead ($22.1 million), cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($16.7 million), right tackle Austin Jackson ($13.8 million) and linebacker Jaelan Phillips ($13.2 million).
Once your quarterback gets paid big money -- like Tagovailoa was this past July-- cap challenges are inevitable, especially for teams, like the Dolphins, that don’t hit on enough draft picks on cheap rookie contracts.
The Dolphins can create some space by again restructuring contracts (Chubb and his $29.3 million 2025 cap hit are at the top of the list), making minor moves (releasing Smythe, for example, saves $3.4 million in space) and moving on from Armstead, who was playing at an elite level but whose 2025 cap hit drop from $22.1 million to $7.8 million if he’s released with a post-June 1 designation. (Keep in mind that none of that savings could be used in March/April/May free agency.)
If the Dolphins trade Hill before June 1, his 2025 cap hit for 2025 would rise slightly to $28.3 million. it would drop to $12.7 million if he’s traded after June 1, but Miami wouldn’t get 2025 draft picks in a post-June 1 transaction.
Cap gymnastics will give the Dolphins some flexibility, but not nearly enough to fill seven starting positions with proven, distinguished starters.
What about moving on from Chubb? The Dolphins need him and his cap hit would drop from only $29.3 million to $27.3 million if he were traded or cut before June 1. (It would be $9.1 million if traded or cut after.)
The Dolphins thus wouldn’t have the cap space to sign replacements in free agency if they dealt Hill or Chubb or Jaylen Waddle, whose modest $8.0 million cap number for 2025 would swell to $15.1 million in 2025 dead money if Miami trades him before June 1.
So with financial limitations and an underwhelming record of personnel evaluations, how exactly does this team fill nearly 20 holes next spring? It’s a sobering reality that leaves a shaky rebuild teetering at its foundation.
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