The franchise tag deadline has passed, and as expected, the Miami Dolphins did not make a move.
The reality is, they really couldn’t.
The Dolphins would love to hang on to Christian Wilkins, but finances are a factor.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, they had the NFL‘s second-worst salary cap situation, behind only the Buffalo Bills. They need to clear $15.7 million in obligations by 4 p.m. on March 13 simply to avoid NFL sanctions.
Miami Dolphins’ Salary Cap Situation
All figures are courtesy of Spotrac.
The Dolphins got closer to being in the black Tuesday by cutting linebacker Jerome Baker and defensive back Keion Crossman.
“Thank you @MiamiDolphins it’s always a pleasure,” Crossen wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the news broke.
But even after that move, they still were millions over the 2024 salary cap, set this year at $255.4 million.
Two significant causes of the Dolphins’ problem?
Not including Xavien Howard, who will be a post-June 1 cut once the league’s new year begins next week, they have five players with cap figures over $20 million (Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, Bradley Chubb, Tua Tagovailoa, and Terron Armstead).
And they rolled over just $1.7 million from 2023, with $16.8 million in dead cap charges.
Put another way: They spent too much last year and are on track to spend too much this year.
They do have over $60 million in estimated cap space in 2025. That’s the good news. The bad? They currently have just 29 players under contract beyond this year — and that number includes Howard.
Read on for additional details on where they stand.
Potential Cuts, With 2024 Cap Savings
- CB Xavien Howard: $18.5 million (post-June 1)
- OT Terron Armstead: $9.5 million (post-June 1)
- LB David Long: $4.5 million
- QB Mike White: $3.5 million
- RB Jeff Wilson Jr.: $2.9 million
- LB Duke Riley: $2.5 million
- K Jason Sanders: $2.4 million
Potential Restructures, With 2024 Cap Savings
- EDGE Bradley Chubb: $13.9 million
- WR Tyreek Hill: $12.2 million
- OT Terron Armstead: $8 million
- CB Jalen Ramsey: $6.8 million
- DT Zach Sieler: $4.7 million
2024 Dead Money ($16.8 Million Total)
- CB Byron Jones: $10.1 million
- LB Jerome Baker: $5 million
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah: $4 million
- WR Cedrick Wilson: $2.5 million
- WR Elijah Higgins: $132,000
- OT Ryan Hayes: $65,000
KEEP READING: How Franchise Tag Rules Worked Against Miami Dolphins in 2024
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