The Dolphins sound unlikely to use their easiest salary cap-saving moves before 2026 NFL free agency opens

The timing may not be right for the Dolphins to use all of their cap savings options ahead of free agency.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
Add as preferred source on Google

The Miami Dolphins are in need of some more wiggle room against the salary cap.

Once the league formalized the 2026 salary cap this week at the NFL Combine, everyone was officially able to recalibrate their standing against the cap. This year’s figure checks in at $301.2 million — a record-setting number and a hefty figure for teams to work with. That’s the good news for Miami. The bad news for Miami is that the team already has nearly $74 million in dead cap debt from prior contracts already. And that’s before you factor in the Tua Tagovailoa situation. The Dolphins have some moves left to make, but the timing of their leadership’s hiring may prevent Miami from executing all of the possible maneuvers.

Dolphins’ cap savings from contract extensions feel like a long shot in time for start of free agency

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

There are three strong extension candidates on Miami’s roster who are in contract years in 2026. They are LB Jordyn Brooks, C Aaron Brewer, and RB De’Von Achane. All three of them have been described by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan as “building blocks”, indicating the Dolphins envision all three players as pieces for not only now but for the future.

OverTheCap.com‘s updated projection for Miami’s cap budget with the $301.2M ceiling does leave them compliant — but by less than $1 million. The Dolphins are going to need more spending power either way.

The contracts of Brooks, Brewer, and Achane are structured in such a way that there could be savings of several million dollars for each player if they were to sign contract extensions at any point. But Miami doesn’t sound like they’re going to be able to access those savings based on what Sullivan reportedly shared with the local beat reporters this week in Indianapolis.

They say that timing is everything. And if the Dolphins were going to tap into cap savings for Brooks, Brewer, or Achane in time for the start of the league year in 10 days, it would seem as though the timing of things would have needed to be different. It makes sense, too. Sullivan was hired on January 9th. New head coach Jeff Hafley came a week and a half later after head coaching interviews. These guys have been on the job for less than two months.

In that period of time, they’ve had to:

– Interview and hire assistant coaches
– Watch and assess the roster in-depth
– Develop an offseason plan for the salary cap management with executive Brandon Shore
– Work through all of their scenarios with QB Tua Tagovailoa and how to navigate that exceptionally complicated situation
– Transition the pro scouting staff and watch film on the free agency class
– Transition the college scouting staff and watch film on the draft prospects
– Attend both the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine
– Hold trade talks regarding players such as Tagovailoa and SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick

It doesn’t leave a lot of room for contract negotiations in that two-month window, given that the team’s leadership group is hustling to make up for lost time after getting hired in January as compared to teams that have not made any changes. As a result, it seems that contract extensions for Miami’s best players isn’t going to be a part of the calculus for getting salary cap wiggle room for the start of the league year. It’s safe to assume Miami will work to extend all three. But in time for the start of free agency as a means of reaping subsequent cap savings? Not so much.

Miami will have to execute another series of moves. They have some at their disposal to make — but they’re running out of time to finalize which ones they want to execute. I would suspect, as a result, this week will be a busy one for Miami to make some move.

Related Articles