Armstead contract detail creates financial dilemma for the Dolphins
Terron Armstead’s continued injuries and availability issues are unfortunate for all parties — the Dolphins, because of how much they need his elite play at left tackle, and Armstead, because he’s a classy pro who does everything that can reasonably be expected to try to keep himself upright.
So the latest setback — he’s now sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, though not out for the season — is disappointing.
But surprising? Hardly. The Dolphins knew what they were getting, in March 2022, when they gave him five years and $75 million, including $43.4 million guaranteed.
Armstead has famously never played a full season, appearing in this number of games per season: 6, 14, 13, 7, 10, 10, 15, 14, 8, then 13 in his first year with the Dolphins.
And now, after missing the first two games with three injuries, his body lasted only 1 1⁄2 games before betraying him again, this time with a knee injury that will keep him sidelined at least several weeks.
So because of his durability issues, is there any way the Dolphins could realistically move on after the season and help their precarious salary cap situation? Not in a way that seems to make financial sense.
Armstead — who will be 33 next July — is set to make $13.25 million in base salary next season, and $5 million of that salary is guaranteed. Even with Armstead set to miss considerable time this season, it’s difficult seeing the Dolphins paying a very good player more than onethird of his salary to not be on the team.
What’s more, his 2024 cap hit would rise from $20.6 million to $24.1 million if he’s cut before June 1, 2024, and would drop only from $20.6 million to $11.3 million if he’s cut after June 1. Even if he plays only a few games this season, $11.3 million is too big a dead money cap hit to stomach to tell a player of that quality to go away.
Even moving on from Armstead in another 17 months would be challenging from a cap perspective.
Though none of his $13.3 million salary is guaranteed in 2025, his $20.7 million 2025 cap hit wouldn’t come close to being erased if he’s cut after the 2024 season.
He would still have a dead money hit of $12.7 million for 2025 if he’s cut before June 1, 2025, or $6.3 million if he’s cut after June 1, 2025.
His $12.3 million salary in 2026 is not guaranteed, but cutting him after 2025 (meaning nearly three more seasons of keeping him on the roster and praying for his health) would result in a $6.3 million dead money cap hit. If he’s on the team in
2026, his cap number would be $20.7 million barring a restructure.
So the Dolphins are going to have cap headaches with Armstead, well into the future, if he cannot stay healthy.
They could approach him about a restructure and pay cut, but it’s one thing to ask Cedrick Wilson Jr. to take a pay cut and another thing to ask that of a player with the pedigree of Armstead.
Under any circumstances, some kind of contract adjustment seems necessary, because of the durability problems and because the Dolphins are already $22.7 million over the 2024 cap, per overthecap.com.
For now, the Dolphins must hope that Kendall Lamm thrives at left tackle and then agrees to return next season on a team-friendly deal (provided he plays well the rest of this season).
Also, don’t be surprised if the Dolphins look for a left tackle early in next year’s draft.
As for Armstead, coach Mike McDaniel said the team has not decided whether to place him on injured reserve, which would sideline him at least four games. McDaniel said he will play again this season but that his absence is a matter of weeks, not days.
INJURY NEWS
Two Dolphins who missed the first four games of the season returned to practice on Wednesday.
Cornerback Nik Needham and guard Robert Jones participated in on-field work, triggering a 21-day clock. After that three-week period, Needham and Jones must either be placed on the 53-man roster or otherwise be ruled out for the season.
Needham, who sustained a torn Achilles injury in a game against Minnesota last October, began training camp on the physically unable to perform list and has remained there since. Before Wednesday, he hadn’t practiced since the injury.
Jones has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained in preseason. Because he spent four weeks on injured reserve, he’s now eligible to return.
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who has been dealing with two injuries, is not cleared to start practicing and remains on injured reserve, McDaniel said.
“We’re working our way with Jeff; feel good about that,” McDaniel said. Once he practices, his 21-day window also would begin.
Wilson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on his weekly Fox-7 segment on Sunday that Wilson is healthy and ready to return.
Meanwhile, safety DeShon Elliott — who missed Sunday’s game with two injuries — will practice on Wednesday, McDaniel said.
Linebacker Jaelan Phillips missed the Buffalo game with an oblique injury, and McDaniel was noncommittal about his availability for the Giants game.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” McDaniel said. “Don’t know exactly when that will be.
“I’m hopeful. I know he’s progressing. The last thing we want is for one of the guys we count on to produce to have that lingering issue all season. It’s a fine balance.”
Center Connor Williams — who missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury — will practice this week. Rosenhaus has said he will be ready to play this week or Oct. 15 against Carolina.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins continue to explore the neck injury that has sidelined receiver Erik Ezukanma ,an injury the team believes he initially sustained well over a year ago at Texas Tech.
McDaniel said he does not believe that Ezukanma will be out for the season but “I don’t know the timeline. We’re steadily getting to the bottom” of it.
Ezukanma is on injured reserve and must miss at least three more games.