Dolphins will release veteran Suh
Move creates $17 million in cap space; Bills swap picks, trade LT Glenn to Bengals
The Miami Dolphins are planning to release Ndamukong Suh this week, according to a league source. Cutting the veteran defensive tackle who has been named to five Pro Bowls will clear $17 million in cap space.
Suh, who had 48 tackles, 41⁄ sacks and two forced fumbles last season while playing on an injured knee for the final two months of the season, will have earned $60 million in the three years he’s played for the Dolphins.
His release would give the Dolphins $14 million in cap space once the franchise finalizes a trade for former Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn and sends receiver Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, which is the first day of the NFL’s league year. Last week, the Dolphins were $19 million over the cap.
Suh’s departure also means the Dolphins are handing over the interior of the defensive line to three young defense tackles — Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor — unless they sign a veteran or two when free agency begins Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Teams were permitted to have conversations and make offers to free agents starting Monday at 4 p.m., but no deals can become official until Wednesday at 4 p.m. Suh is expected to be released Wednesday at 4 p.m. and designated a post-June 1 release, which will allow Miami to immediately free up money for the start of free agency that it otherwise would have had to save for rookie and in-season moves.
Suh, who turned 31 in January, will likely become one of the top free agents available, and because he’s being released, the former Nebraska star would be able to sign with a team before Wednesday.
Suh’s release, and the expected departure of Landry, who was traded to the Browns for a fourth-round pick in 2018 and a seventh-round pick in 2019, means the Dolphins are losing two of the team’s most consistent performers over the past three seasons. They have combined to appear in four Pro Bowls.
Add in the release of linebacker Lawrence Timmons and the likely release of tight end Julius Thomas, which will clear nearly $12,075,000 in cap space, and the Dolphins will have $26 million to play with in free agency this week. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh had 48 tackles, 41⁄ sacks and two forced fumbles last season while playing on an injured knee for the final two months of the season. Bengals acquire LT Glenn from Bills: A person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press the Buffalo Bills have moved up nine spots in the draft by swapping first-round picks with the Cincinnati Bengals, who also acquired high-priced left tackle Cordy Glenn as part of the trade.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Monday because teams are not allowed to announce trades until the NFL’s new business year opens Wednesday. Buffalo moved up to the No. 12 spot in the draft by trading the first of its two opening-round selections, 21st overall. The Bills also have the No. 22 pick.
Buffalo also traded its fifth-round pick (158th overall) for the Bengals’ sixth-round selection (187th) as part of the Bills’ second major trade in three days. OnFriday, Buffalo traded starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland for a third-round pick.
Glenn has been a Bills starter since his rookie season in 2012. He was limited to six games last year because of an injury to his left foot that eventually required surgery. Chiefs to part ways with LB Hali: The Chiefs are releasing one of their career sack leaders and a veteran stalwart of their secondary, moves designed to help Kansas City get younger on defense and have some financial freedom for the start of free agency.
The Chiefs will part ways with longtime linebacker Tamba Hali, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the move, while hardly a surprise given his decreased production, had not been announced by the team.
Kansas City did say it was releasing safety Ron Parker, who had missed just one game over the past four seasons and provided some stability when Eric Berry was injured last season.
Hali was due a base salary of $5,750,000 this season with a salary cap hit of more than $9 million, and his release will cost them only about $1.7 million in dead money. Parker’s release saves about $5.3 million against the salary cap. Cousins says goodbye: Reportedly in information-gathering mode as the NFL’s “legal tampering” window opened, free agent and soon-to-be-former Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins shared a farewell message for fans.
In a 515-word message posted on his personal website, Cousins began by thanking one of his biggest supporters, former Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, for selecting him in the 2012 NFL draft. He mentioned “You Like That!” which still isn’t a question, and recalled Redskins fans greeting the team at Redskins Park in the early morning hours on Dec. 27, 2015, after Washington captured the NFC East title with a win at Philadelphia. He said there is no way he would be where he is today — poised to become the highest-paid player in the league — “without the leadership of the Redskins organization,” including Jay Gruden, Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder.
Cousins might have also inadvertently tipped his hand about where he’s considering signing by initially including “Vikings” and “Jets,” but not “Broncos” and “Cardinals,” in the tags at the end of his post alongside tags such as “Moving,” “New Team,” and “Classic.” The “Vikings” and “Jets” tags were quickly removed. Redskins re-sign K Hopkins: Kicker Dustin Hopkins re-signed with the Redskins, and backup offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe was given a second-round tender worth about $2.9 million.
Hopkins has made 73 of 87 field-goal attempts in three seasons, putting him at 83.9 percent, which ranks second in franchise history among kickers with at least 50 tries. His career-long kick is 54 yards. He’s also made 94.9 percent of extra points, going 93 of 98.
Hopkins missed half of last season with a strained hip muscle. He went 14 of 17 on field-goal attempts and 18 of 19 on extra points.
The 6-foot-8, 338-pound Nsekhe has made11starts in the NFLandappeared in 42 games. The 32-year-old tackle started five of the last six games last season.