It was a black Monday in Miami Gardens for multiple veterans within the Miami Dolphins organization. The team — under the new leadership team of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley — axed pass rusher Bradley Chubb, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and offensive guard James Daniels.
Those four cuts took a team that was significantly over the salary cap prior to Monday to a team that now sits with $3.1 million in cap space according to OvertheCap.com — even without Chubb’s money factored in just yet due to the team not officially releasing him despite Chubb posting a farewell message on social media. When Chubb’s savings become available to the Dolphins, the team will have between $11 million and $13 million in cap space (depending on how they choose to officially move on from the veteran EDGE player).
The departure of Tyreek Hill was by far the biggest money saving move Miami made on Monday — with the soon-to-be 32 year-old pass catcher’s release saving the Dolphins $22.9 million in cap space. However, the Dolphins will still be on the hook for a $28.249 million dead cap hit while Hill suits up for another team in 2026.
On paper, these moves would seem to open significant holes on Miami’s roster, but Daniels played just three snaps for the Dolphins in 2025, Hill only played 3 and a half games last season, Westbrook-Ikhine caught just 11 balls for 89 yards and zero touchdowns during his lone season in Miami, and Bradley Chubb — a player who will turn 30 years-old this summer — had clearly lost a step following a knee injury that caused him to miss the entirety of the 2024 NFL season.
For a team that went 7-10 in 2025 despite everything crumbling around them, Monday’s cuts provide the organization with some much needed cap space, while clearing out aging and/or unproductive players on the roster. With a strong draft class, and some prudent free-agent signings, the Dolphins will hope to compete for a playoff spot in 2026 while continuing to remake their roster in the new regime’s image.
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