$19 million over the cap
Miami must trim payroll in a week to get under salary limit
The Miami Dolphins must find a way to clear a little more than $19 million in cap space before 4 p.m. on March 14, which is the start of the NFL’s new league year.
According to the NFLPA, the salary cap will rise from $167 million to $177,200,000 in 2018, but most teams have the freedom to spend more because of cap carryover from unspent money in previous years.
The Dolphins have $184,003,438 committed to the team’s top 51 contracts (which is all that counts against the cap), and that’s before acquiring defensive end Robert Quinn in a trade that can’t become official until March 14.
Quinn, acquired from the Los Angeles Rams last week for a 2018 fourth-round pick and swap of 2018 sixth-rounders, is slated to earn $11,444,412 million in base salary and a roster bonus in 2018. But his 2018 cap charge, which factors in previous bonuses he’s been paid, is $12,399,770 for this upcoming season.
Because the Dolphins will only carry over $69,161 in unused cap space, Miami must clear $19,134,047 in salaries to finalize
the Quinn trade, and make any other roster moves.
Miami’s cap space includes the $15,982,000 the Dolphins committed to Jarvis Landry when they decided to place the franchise tag on the fourth-year receiver last month.
Landry, a three-time Pro Bowl pick who is seeking a multi-year contract that pays him more than $14 million a season, hasn’t signed the one-year contract, which is fully guaranteed. But he reportedly will at some point this week.
The Dolphins are actively discussing trades for Landry, but he’d need to sign the franchise tag first to make it happen. However, any team interested in trading for Landry would likely prefer to work out a multi-year deal with him first.
A trade, which also can’t happen until March 14, would clear Landry’s salary off the books, but that still wouldn’t be enough to get Miami under the salary cap.
Like most NFL teams, the Dolphins have annually purged their roster to create cap space, and this is the week it will likely be done based on the franchise’s history.
Tight end Julius Thomas and linebacker Lawrence Timmons, two players Miami acquired last offseason, head the list of veterans who will likely be cut or forced to restructure their contracts since neither player’s productivity met the team’s expectations.
Releasing Thomas, whom the Dolphins acquired from the Jaguars for a 2017 seventh-round pick, would clear $6.5 million in cap space.
Cutting Timmons, who voided the guaranteed portion of his 2018 salary when he unexpectedly skipped Miami’s season opener by leaving the team without permission, would clear $5.47 million.
The Dolphins have not informed either player of their fate as of Tuesday evening.
Another decision that could potentially clear cap space is whether Miami will honor right tackle Ja’Wuan James’ fifth-year option, which guarantees the four-year starter $9.34 million if he’s on the roster on March 14.
Dolphins officials say no decision has been made on James, who would instantly become an unrestricted free agent if released. The Dolphins could also trade James on his fifth-year option.
Miami could also extend defensive end Cameron Wake’s contract, adding an extra season, which has been the tradition the previous two offseasons. If the Dolphins re-work his $8 million base salary and turn most of that to a roster or signing bonus they could create a substantial amount of cap space.
The Dolphins could also restructure contracts for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh ($17 million base salary), quarterback Ryan Tannehill ($17.4 million), safety Reshad Jones ($9,735,000) and center Mike Pouncey ($9,341,000) to create the cap space needed to sign free agents and the 2018 draft class.
The Dolphins have 16 unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents and five exclusive rights free agents. Each team must submit restricted and exclusive rights tender offers to the players they intend to retain by 4 p.m. on March 14.